assignment

noun

ə-ˈsīn-mənt How to pronounce assignment (audio)
Definition of assignmentnext
1
as in task
a piece of work that needs to be done regularly his first newspaper assignment was writing obituaries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in job
a specific task with which a person or group is charged the spy team's assignment was to steal the plans for the nuclear reactor

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lesson
something assigned to be read or studied have you read the assignment for tomorrow?

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appointment
the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty her assignment to the board of directors was a point of considerable pride for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore, duty, job, stint, and task. While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

When might job be a better fit than assignment?

The synonyms job and assignment 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

When could stint be used to replace assignment?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

When can task be used instead of assignment?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

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 assignment The proceedings could influence future policies in the Cincinnati Police Department related to promotions, assignments, and diversity initiatives and may prompt broader debate on public safety employment practices nationwide. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 Miami Herald 305-376-3619 Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025 Her assignments have taken her from gin bars in Hong Kong to wild swimming in Ireland, as well as on countless explorations of her New England home turf. —Jeanne O'Brien Coffey, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 Lowder suffered the loss in both, losing his start in Arizona to Clayton Kershaw, who was on a rehab assignment for the Los Angeles Dodgers. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for assignment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assignment
  1. task
  2. job
  3. lesson
  4. appointment
  5. duty
  6. mission
  7. homework
  8. reading
Noun
  • To save time at work, consider implementing automation for these common tasks.
    — John Hall, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • The attached Tab Pen Plus is great for precise input, and the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor keeps up with most tasks.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Definition of task
Noun
  • Well that's the idea Roku had, and it's done a terrific job with its Smart 65-Inch Pro Series TV.
    — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
  • Here’s a look at the life lessons the Thunderbirds have learned from their work that can apply to any job or life stage.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025
Definition of job
Noun
  • Come to Citi Field for the Mets, stay for the lesson on MLB’s obscure rules.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
  • In each episode, the trio will embark on adventures across Brazil, discovering unique biomes, cultural traditions and important lessons about environmental preservation and collaboration.
    — Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 27 May 2025
Definition of lesson
Noun
  • Research shows that 60% of managers fail within the first two years of their appointment, and their struggles during this transition phase often affect their teams.
    — Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • The appointment was announced by Kelly Day, VP of Prime Video International.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 June 2025
Definition of appointment
Noun
  • In its ruling, the court said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump invoked to impose the tariffs, does not authorize a president to levy universal duties on imports.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 May 2025
  • The federal court ruling aimed at striking down the majority of President Donald Trump's tariffs could force the government to pay back billions of dollars in import duties that have already been collected.
    — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of duty
Noun
  • The mission aimed to deploy eight Starlink simulator satellites and test the vehicle's reentry system with 100 removed heat-shield tiles.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
  • Citing his mission as one of fiscal discipline, Musk has led the DOGE effort to eliminate certain federal offices, slash regulations and rapidly cut down the federal workforce, while reprogramming or removing some government websites, software and systems.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Definition of mission
Noun
  • School might be out for the summer, but the BHG editors have been doing their homework.
    — Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
  • Wirtz’s Quick Adaptation As with every target, Liverpool will have done tonnes of homework on Wirtz, poring over all the data.
    — Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of homework
Noun
  • The doc is built around intimate observational footage, rare archive film clips and readings from Welsh’s novels narrated by Liam Neeson (Batman Begins), Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything), musician Nick Cave, Ruth Negga (Ad Astra) and Stephen Graham (Adolescence).
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, the latest reading of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge indicated that price increases in April slowed as well.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Definition of reading

Browse Nearby Words

assigning
assignment
assignments
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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