chore

noun

ˈchȯr 

1

chores plural : the regular or daily light work of a household or farm

2

: a routine task or job

The children were each assigned household chores.

3

: a difficult or disagreeable task

doing taxes can be a real chore

Synonyms

• assignment
• duty
• job
• task

Choose the Right Synonym for chore

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment 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

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of chore in a Sentence

The children were each assigned different household chores.

I liked the simple chore of bringing in the firewood.

Doing taxes can be a real chore.

That movie is a chore to sit through.

Recent Examples on the Web

Say a child is upset about being asked to do a chore. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 20 Apr. 2024

Carolyn Hax columns about chores Perspective Carolyn Hax: Is ‘here’s your chore list’ too unwelcoming to stepchild? —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Editors’ Picks But the effects of declining vision can be especially pronounced for women, who are often responsible for earning extra income for their families in addition to the child care and household chores, Ms. Mahjabeen said. —Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Long considered more of a chore than a luxury, applying sunscreen has newfound appeal, thanks in part to the latest formulas on the shelves. —Deanna Pai, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024

Turn chores and responsibilities into an enjoyable experience. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024

Our tester wore the Boost slides while doing chores around the house and on a light stroll through the neighborhood. —Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

Even the best-performing headphones become a chore to wear if comfort is lacking, making long-term listening impossible. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

The fireworks started last week with a major turmoil at Inflection AI, which had built a chatbot assistant that’s supposed to juggle the everyday chores of its users like scheduling appointments while also giving them emotional support. —Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of chare

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

chore

noun

ˈchō(ə)r 

ˈchȯ(ə)r

1

plural : the regular light work of a household or farm

2

: an ordinary task

3

: a dull, unpleasant, or difficult task