task 1 of 2

noun

ˈtask How to pronounce task (audio)
Definition of tasknext
1
as in job
a piece of work that needs to be done regularly one of my tasks in the morning is to make lunches for everyone in the family

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in purpose
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists the forklift's task is to stack pallets of goods in the warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The same bewilderment struck me again today, the morning after the finale premiered, when so many fellow critics took White’s ending to task, if not everything that preceded it. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2025 The mission was one of five awarded in 2023 to ULA under the NSSF Phase 2 task orders worth $566 million, but the individual value was not released by the DOD. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Deemed the underdog by Mr. Chicken (Clifton Murray of Painkiller Jane), a successful restaurant chain owner tasked with casting the deciding vote, Frank Jr. was controversially crowned the winner. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025 Crown Bees Honeybees, which are tasked with pollinating many of the agricultural crops in the United States, are dying off in record numbers. —Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
  1. job
  2. purpose
  3. entrust
  4. duty
  5. role
  6. charge
  7. assignment
  8. function
Noun
  • Sure enough, in early 2024, PJ took a job as an avionics technician at Tinker.
    — Jenni Carlson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Young people also admit that AI can do its job better than humans.
    — Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of job
Noun
  • The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Each edge of this triangle-esque tool serves a unique purpose: a smooth, long side for sweeping over wider areas like calves, arms, and thighs; a precision tip for targeted acupressure; and a ridged edge for digging into tense tissue.
    — Allure, Allure, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of purpose
Verb
  • An insider suggests that these aren’t off the wall gambles but are all part of the plan, taking more familiar IP and genres and entrusting filmmakers to give it their own spin.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
  • This shift toward autonomous AI agents marks a significant evolution beyond simple task automation, with leading organizations now entrusting AI systems to handle sophisticated workflows that require reasoning, planning, and adaptive decision-making across various business processes.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of entrust
Noun
  • The deputy prime minister of Vietnam, the low-cost Asian manufacturing hub hit with some of the highest duties globally, is set to talk with Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later on Wednesday.
    — Joe Cash and Trevor Hunnicutt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • What public programs, and civic duties and privileges, are different groups eligible for? Citizen Green-card holder Long-term visa Short-term visa No valid visa Are you allowed to vote, or run for office, in federal and state elections?
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of duty
Noun
  • Regulatory clarity will also play a significant role in shaping the future of Web3 gaming.
    — Faizy Ahmed, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Indie producer Pressman Film has expanded the role of chief operating officer Paula Paizes to include oversight of all production.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of role
Verb
  • James River Phillips, 20, was arrested Thursday by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and charged with possession of an unregistered gun and possession of a destructive device.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year.
    — Molly Taft, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of charge
Noun
  • To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Grant Wolfram was designated for assignment.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Ottavino initially signed with the Yankees on April 1, made two scoreless appearances for them, and was then designated for assignment on April 4.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of assignment
Noun
  • Other tools can analyze code and generate detailed comments for functions, loops and classes.
    — Ken Ringdahl, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Trump was assessed for cognitive function, depression and anxiety.
    — Luke Garrett, NPR, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of function

Phrases Containing task

Browse Nearby Words

tarts
task
tasked
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Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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