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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

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
Looking at his on-court performance alone, pitching Ball to other teams shouldn’t be a difficult task for executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 That may suggest Ballerini isn’t up to the task, but her engaging, energetic performance Friday proved her arena upgrade was actually long overdue. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
D’Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons and five other key rotation players were ruled out before the game, and the Nets’ 24th starting lineup of the season didn’t feature a true point guard. Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin, both playing out of position, were tasked with ball-handling duties. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025 The indies are tasked with coming up with a pilot script, episode outlines and a writing team ready to go. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for task 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • The economy has grown by at least 3% on an annual basis for four out the last five quarters, unemployment sits at 4.1% and job openings remain strong by historical standards.
    Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2025
  • So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Many people probably sense that at some point, there may be a societal pushback against AI, especially since many jobs are being replaced, not just in the creative field.
    Zain Jaffer, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Among its chief purposes, to honor those who kept King’s legacy alive with their own actions Thirty-seven years later, the event — now known as the largest MLK celebration in Anne Arundel County — drew some 600 guests to Maryland Live!
    Sloane Brown, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
  • However, business leaders assessing their companies’ plans for 2025 and 2026 need insights about economic change in the next two years; that is the purpose of this article.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Such a philosophy entrusts players with discretion.
    Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The game of pushing the boundaries was entrusted to headwear, from beanies to cowboy hats and sculptural pillboxes.
    Alex Badia, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Others project small price bump from tariffs, saying say a drop in imports would strengthen the dollar, lowering import prices for Americans and at least partly offsetting the duties.
    Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Females care for the youngest infants, but then males take over most of the parenting duties as the infants wean and become more physically capable.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • What role will the military play in Trump’s immigration crackdown?
    Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys as a consultant in 2022 and moved into the offensive coordinator role when McCarthy took over play-calling duties a year later.
    Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Jansen was charged with arson, burglary, and possession of burglarious tools, according to online court records.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The death penalty is no longer hanging over a Fort Lauderdale man charged with killing his estranged wife in Spain.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • He was designated for assignment in the fall but signed on a minor-league deal earlier this winter.
    Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Students don’t realize that using AI to complete assignments without properly attributing where the source material comes from can be unethical. Misguidance and misinformation.
    Mia Taylor, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These series function, then, as a subtle yet potent, possibly unintentional form of propaganda, whose function is to convince viewers of all kinds that our current form of patriarchy isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Stimulants appear to preserve brain structure and volume in areas associated with cognitive function.
    Alison Escalante, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near task

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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