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task

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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

Examples 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
From the economy and democracy to reproductive rights and the Supreme Court, everyone is anxious about something, and managers face the extremely difficult task of trying to calm that anxiety and keep teams focused. Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 But Paddington in Peru is burdened with the unenviable task of following up two near-perfect predecessors, Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017). Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The monitors are tasked with ensuring compliance with federal voting rights laws. Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 Rogge tasked Impulse with capturing photos and helping guests enjoy the evening without worrying about recording moments on their devices. Meredith Ogilvie-Thompson, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for task 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • But labor unions worry that driving jobs might be lost to the technology.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Some changes include updates to job titles and city spending processes.
    Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • For apps whose express purpose is to help people find friends, my matches seemed overwhelmingly uninterested in chatting, let alone meeting up.
    Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024
  • These extensions have been funded primarily by loans from Water On Demand, Inc. Fortune Rise Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger or similar business combination.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Those who must contend with multiple suppliers and global operations can gain efficiency by entrusting their supply chain operations to 4PLs. Companies considering a major overhaul of their logistics technology may also benefit from outsourcing their supply chain management to a 4PL.
    Anar Mammadov, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Idris Elba When a big-rig truck driver takes his tenacious teenage daughter along for a job, they’re tracked and attacked by a relentless group of criminals that will stop at nothing to secure the consignment he’s been entrusted to deliver.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Voters arrived at the Brighton District Library after the polls opened at 7 a.m. to perform their civic duty and vote.
    Arpan Lobo, Nushrat Rahman, Natalie Davies, Lindsay Tague, Alexander Boesch, Sarah Moore, Sophia Jundy, Mikia Lawrence, Alec Mork, Siddhi Choubey and Sonja Krohn, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
  • The role cutting government spending is not expected to be a Cabinet level position, meaning Musk wouldn’t be required to step away from his CEO duties.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Schools have always played a central role in a child’s development; providing mental health resources on campus could make a profound difference in students’ accessibility to these services.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • His late father, Michael Figures, was an Alabama state senator and his mother serves in that role now.
    Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Brad Simpson is charged in the death of Suzanne Simpson, a 51-year-old mother of four who was last seen outside her San Antonio home on Oct. 7 by her neighbor, officials have said.
    Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Gonzalez-Nunez was charged last year, after police found three firearms in his Hayward residence during a June 2023 raid.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Last year, in the wake of an independent investigation looking into the misconduct of the Cupertino City Council, Moore and fellow Councilmember Liang Chao were stripped of their committee assignments.
    Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Studies show that students without an internet connection at home have a harder time than their peers, with roughly 17% unable to complete homework assignments.
    Advertorial, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • With that, my team and I shifted focus from topics such as how chronic stress influences brains to how positive events – and anticipation for these events – shape neural functions.
    Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Drivers reportedly complained about touchscreen systems adding in at times annoying levels of friction to simple functions like climate control and music.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near task

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on task

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