Definition of tasknext

task

2 of 2

verb

as in to entrust
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun task contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of task are assignment, chore, duty, job, and stint. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

When can assignment be used instead of task?

The words assignment and task can be used in similar contexts, but assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When might chore be a better fit than task?

While in some cases nearly identical to task, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When would duty be a good substitute for task?

The meanings of duty and task largely overlap; however, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

Where would job be a reasonable alternative to task?

The synonyms job and task are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

In what contexts can stint take the place of task?

While the synonyms stint and task are close in meaning, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of task
Noun
But Claude accidentally made its target unreachable, rendering the task impossible to solve, Anthropic said. Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Show your team specifically which tasks are shifting and where that time is being redirected. Sonali Bloom, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
And what that title means is that she is often tasked with giving the traditional Welcome to Country greeting at many Melbourne, Australia events. Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026 He’ll also be tasked with protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side in his first game back after December knee surgery. Jesse Newell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Jeffrey Katzenberg, then a studio executive at Paramount Pictures, hand-picked the Happy Days star for the job, but at the time, Winkler had a bad feeling about accepting it.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • And Kyle was doing a great job of dialing up the right play calls.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Men and boys fulfilled traditional roles around a large circular drum, beating it rhythmically.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Now, as van den Berg arrives for his first NFL regular season with Sunday’s Bears-Panthers opener in Charlotte, he is expected to play a sizable role as part of the Bears’ defensive line rotation.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Foreign leaders continue debating who should be entrusted to rebuild Gaza, as though Palestinians will not reclaim freedom with our own hands and rebuild it ourselves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Nonprofit leaders are entrusted with missions, resources, sensitive information and decisions that can directly affect communities.
    Ekramy El Zaghat, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Malzahn recorded an overall record of 68-35 in his eight seasons leading the Tigers, before being relieved of his duties following the 2020 season.
    Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Tariffs on cement, road salt and hospital pads were removed and replaced with duties on all-terrain vehicles, some cheeses and motorboats.
    Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Around for decades, red-light therapy has traditionally been used to treat chronic muscle and joint pain and various injuries, and has shown cosmetic benefits for skin and facial care, purposes for which it’s cleared by the FDA.
    Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • One of the Constitution’s founding purposes was to prevent change.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Walsh, 40, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder on Friday, police announced.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Bossell is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle in connection with the death of 29-year-old Graham Hoffman.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With the woeful Colorado Rockies coming to the Bronx, the Yankees could, effectively, treat those three games as the equivalent of a minor league rehab assignment for Judge.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In 1963, Gloria Steinem went undercover for a journalism assignment as a Playboy bunny, exposing degrading working conditions that forced policy changes.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • On October 4, 2016, the famously quiet, reserved fighter picked up her phone, opened her Twitter (now ‘X’ ) app and clicked on the ‘search’ function.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The overwhelming response from our community reflects the strength of pairing On’s innovative heritage with our deep understanding of women and our passion for blending function with style.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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