task 1 of 2

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
Finding the right answers will be among the earliest and most difficult tasks for new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026 There’s no need to start an advanced project immediately, and the right task could keep you more engaged in the long run. Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 5 June 2026
Verb
Rosemarie Berman of the Southside Community Action Network was tasked with taking the questions of those in attendance and posing them to officials. Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 12 June 2026 This was not well planned by Sony, and Bungie is now tasked with an enormous amount of work to make Marathon more popular than it was ever intended to be. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Wedding tents have multiple jobs during a celebration.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 15 June 2026
  • Thank you to the local authorities for being so professional and doing their job with class.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Australian actors Amelia Zadro and Caspar Hardakar play supporting roles as Kotori and Charmerae respectively.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 June 2026
  • Prior to Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Sean Connery also played the role of the famed super spy, based on the character in Ian Fleming's books.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • McConnell gets solid performances from his actors, none more so than Yurich, who obviously took a leap by entrusting his story to someone else but pours himself into the role to a degree that suggests complete trust.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • You are not simply assigned a room, you are temporarily entrusted with the care of an extraordinary beachfront home.
    Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • On May 31, a Frontier Airlines passenger tried to open the plane's exit doors mid-flight and then choke an off-duty flight attendant, according to an affidavit.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 11 June 2026
  • The Current did double World Cup duty Wednesday as the Netherlands also trained at the Current’s practice facility in Riverside.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • That purpose might come from family, work, creativity, advocacy, faith or friendships.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 15 June 2026
  • The company added that Atlas’s athletic feats, including handstands and backflips, serve a practical purpose by helping develop balance, agility, slip recovery, and endurance needed for real-world industrial environments.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Iran had not charged tolls on the Strait of Hormuz before the war, meaning the deal largely restores conditions that existed before it.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • At the time he was arrested he was charged as a juvenile and allowed to live with an uncle because of his age.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Days before he would be designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs, Lopez took time away from the team to be with his family in the wake of his grandfather’s May 21 passing.
    Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
  • Pitcher Jackson Rutledge was designated for assignment to make room for Hill on the 40-man roster.
    Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • The Art Collection Unlike many luxury properties where art functions primarily as décor, the collection at Ivory Lodge has a deeper purpose.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Plus, the many functions are great for camping and backpacking trips, too.
    Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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