Task — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtask/

Meaning & Definition of Task

Task (noun)

  1. a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time
  2. something hard or unpleasant that has to be done
  3. duty, function

Task (verb)

  1. to assign a task to
  2. to oppress with great labor
  3. to impose a tax on

Task (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: assignment, chore, duty, job
    related: chare, endeavor, enterprise, project, stint, undertaking, care, charge, commission, responsibility, function, mission, office, operation, post, errand, circuit, round, route

  2. 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"

    similar: business, capacity, function, job, part, place, position, purpose, role, work
    related: affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, office, post, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

Task (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give a task, duty, or responsibility to

    "I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year"

    similar: assign, charge, commission, entrust, trust
    related: confer, impose, commit, confide, consign, delegate, recommend, relegate, repose, allocate, allot, authorize, empower, invest

Related Entry: Task force (noun)

Task force is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for task force, not for task.

  1. as in team, crew

    similar: brigade, crew, outfit, phalanx, platoon, posse, team, array, band, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch, cluster, clutch, cohort, consort, constellation, crop, gaggle, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, parcel, party, passel, assembly, collective, congregation, gathering, muster, organization, circle, clan, clique, coterie, fellowship, gang, ring, round, set, faction, guild, order, school, sect, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederacy, confederation, federation, league, union, battalion, squadron, bevy, brood, covey
    opposite: individual, single

Related Entry: Task forces (noun)

Task forces is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for task forces, not for task.

  1. as in teams, crews

    similar: brigades, crews, outfits, phalanxes, platoons, posses, teams, arrays, bands, batches, batteries, bodies, boodles, bunches, clusters, clutches, cohorts, consorts, constellations, crops, gaggles, groupings, groups, huddles, knots, lots, parcels, parties, passels, assemblies, collectives, congregations, gatherings, musters, organizations, circles, clans, cliques, coteries, fellowships, gangs, rings, rounds, sets, factions, guilds, orders, schools, sects, alliances, blocs, coalitions, confederacies, confederations, federations, leagues, unions, battalions, squadrons, bevies, broods, coveys
    opposite: individuals, singles

Related Entry: Take to task (phrase)

Take to task is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for take to task, not for task.

  1. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "He took his rival to task during the TV interview."

    similar: blame, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slag (chiefly British), come down hard (on), find fault (with)
    related: skewer, tweak, assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash, nick (at), snipe (at), beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble, whine, admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste, lash, pillory, scold, upbraid, bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down
    opposite: extol, laud, praise
    near: approve, commend, endorse, recommend, sanction

  2. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "He took the landscaper to task for once again letting the bushes get overgrown."

    similar: baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid, lay into, read the riot act (to)
    related: admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove, abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (slang), excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate, belittle, disparage, mock, put down, ridicule, scoff, scorn
    near: approve, endorse, sanction, extol, laud, praise

Related Entry: Taken to task (phrase)

Taken to task is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for taken to task, not for task.

  1. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "He took his rival to task during the TV interview."

    similar: blamed, censured, condemned, criticized, denounced, dispraised, dissed (slang), faulted, knocked, panned, reprehended, slagged (chiefly British), come down hard (on), found fault (with)
    related: skewered, tweaked, assailed, attacked, blasted, clobbered, slammed, slashed, nicked (at), sniped (at), beefed, bellyached, bitched, carped, caviled, complained, crabbed, croaked, fussed, griped, groused, growled, grumbled, kicked, kvetched, moaned, murmured, muttered, niggled, quibbled, whined, admonished, chid, drubbed, rebuked, reprimanded, reproached, reproved, berated, castigated, crucified, excoriated, flayed, gibbeted, hammered, keelhauled, lambasted, lashed, pilloried, scolded, upbraided, bad-mouthed, belittled, decried, derided, discommended, disparaged, put down
    opposite: extolled, lauded, praised
    near: approved, commended, endorsed, recommended, sanctioned

  2. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "He took the landscaper to task for once again letting the bushes get overgrown."

    similar: basted, bawled out, berated, called down, castigated, chastised, chewed out, dressed down, flayed, hammered, jawed, keelhauled, lambasted, lectured, ragged, railed (at or against), ranted (at), rated, reamed (out), rebuked, reprimanded, reproached, scolded, scored, tongue-lashed, upbraided, laid into, read the riot act (to)
    related: admonished, chid, remonstrated (with), reproved, abused, assailed, attacked, bad-mouthed, blamed, blasted, censured, condemned, criticized, crucified, denounced, dissed (slang), excoriated, faulted, harangued, knocked, laced (into), lashed, panned, reprehended, reviled, scourged, slammed, vituperated, belittled, disparaged, mocked, put down, ridiculed, scoffed, scorned
    near: approved, endorsed, sanctioned, extolled, lauded, praised

Related Entry: Took to task (phrase)

Took to task is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for took to task, not for task.

  1. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "He took his rival to task during the TV interview."

    similar: blamed, censured, condemned, criticized, denounced, dispraised, dissed (slang), faulted, knocked, panned, reprehended, slagged (chiefly British), came down hard (on), found fault (with)
    related: skewered, tweaked, assailed, attacked, blasted, clobbered, slammed, slashed, nicked (at), sniped (at), beefed, bellyached, bitched, carped, caviled, complained, crabbed, croaked, fussed, griped, groused, growled, grumbled, kicked, kvetched, moaned, murmured, muttered, niggled, quibbled, whined, admonished, chid, drubbed, rebuked, reprimanded, reproached, reproved, berated, castigated, crucified, excoriated, flayed, gibbeted, hammered, keelhauled, lambasted, lashed, pilloried, scolded, upbraided, bad-mouthed, belittled, decried, derided, discommended, disparaged, put down
    opposite: extolled, lauded, praised
    near: approved, commended, endorsed, recommended, sanctioned

  2. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "He took the landscaper to task for once again letting the bushes get overgrown."

    similar: basted, bawled out, berated, called down, castigated, chastised, chewed out, dressed down, flayed, hammered, jawed, keelhauled, lambasted, lectured, ragged, railed (at or against), ranted (at), rated, reamed (out), rebuked, reprimanded, reproached, scolded, scored, tongue-lashed, upbraided, laid into, read the riot act (to)
    related: admonished, chid, remonstrated (with), reproved, abused, assailed, attacked, bad-mouthed, blamed, blasted, censured, condemned, criticized, crucified, denounced, dissed (slang), excoriated, faulted, harangued, knocked, laced (into), lashed, panned, reprehended, reviled, scourged, slammed, vituperated, belittled, disparaged, mocked, put down, ridiculed, scoffed, scorned
    near: approved, endorsed, sanctioned, extolled, lauded, praised

Related Entry: Takes to task (phrase)

Takes to task is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for takes to task, not for task.

  1. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "He took his rival to task during the TV interview."

    similar: blames, censures, condemns, criticizes, denounces, dispraises, disses (slang), faults, knocks, pans, reprehends, slags (chiefly British), comes down hard (on), finds fault (with)
    related: skewers, tweaks, assails, attacks, blasts, clobbers, slams, slashes, nicks (at), snipes (at), beefs, bellyaches, bitches, carps, cavils, complains, crabs, croaks, fusses, gripes, grouses, growls, grumbles, kicks, kvetches, moans, murmurs, mutters, niggles, quibbles, whines, admonishes, chides, drubs, rebukes, reprimands, reproaches, reproves, berates, castigates, crucifies, excoriates, flays, gibbets, hammers, keelhauls, lambastes, lashes, pillories, scolds, upbraids, bad-mouths, belittles, decries, derides, discommends, disparages, puts down
    opposite: extols, lauds, praises
    near: approves, commends, endorses, recommends, sanctions

  2. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "He took the landscaper to task for once again letting the bushes get overgrown."

    similar: bastes, bawls out, berates, calls down, castigates, chastises, chews out, dresses down, flays, hammers, jaws, keelhauls, lambastes, lectures, rags, rails (at or against), rants (at), rates, reams (out), rebukes, reprimands, reproaches, scolds, scores, tongue-lashes, upbraids, lays into, reads the riot act (to)
    related: admonishes, chides, remonstrates (with), reproves, abuses, assails, attacks, bad-mouths, blames, blasts, censures, condemns, criticizes, crucifies, denounces, disses (slang), excoriates, faults, harangues, knocks, laces (into), lashes, pans, reprehends, reviles, scourges, slams, vituperates, belittles, disparages, mocks, puts down, ridicules, scoffs, scorns
    near: approves, endorses, sanctions, extols, lauds, praises

Related Entry: Taking to task (phrase)

Taking to task is a different word from Task. The synonyms below are for taking to task, not for task.

  1. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "He took his rival to task during the TV interview."

    similar: blaming, censuring, condemning, criticizing, denouncing, dispraising, dissing (slang), faulting, knocking, panning, reprehending, slagging (chiefly British), coming down hard (on), finding fault (with)
    related: skewering, tweaking, assailing, attacking, blasting, clobbering, slamming, slashing, nicking (at), sniping (at), beefing, bellyaching, bitching, carping, caviling, complaining, crabbing, croaking, fussing, griping, grousing, growling, grumbling, kicking, kvetching, moaning, murmuring, muttering, niggling, quibbling, whining, admonishing, chiding, drubbing, rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, reproving, berating, castigating, crucifying, excoriating, flaying, gibbeting, hammering, keelhauling, lambasting, lashing, pillorying, scolding, upbraiding, bad-mouthing, belittling, decrying, deriding, discommending, disparaging, putting down
    opposite: extolling, lauding, praising
    near: approving, commending, endorsing, recommending, sanctioning

  2. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "He took the landscaper to task for once again letting the bushes get overgrown."

    similar: basting, bawling out, berating, calling down, castigating, chastising, chewing out, dressing down, flaying, hammering, jawing, keelhauling, lambasting, lecturing, ragging, railing (at or against), ranting (at), rating, reaming (out), rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, scolding, scoring, tongue-lashing, upbraiding, laying into, reading the riot act (to)
    related: admonishing, chiding, remonstrating (with), reproving, abusing, assailing, attacking, bad-mouthing, blaming, blasting, censuring, condemning, criticizing, crucifying, denouncing, dissing (slang), excoriating, faulting, haranguing, knocking, lacing (into), lashing, panning, reprehending, reviling, scourging, slamming, vituperating, belittling, disparaging, mocking, putting down, ridiculing, scoffing, scorning
    near: approving, endorsing, sanctioning, extolling, lauding, praising

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Task

The most common words with a similar meaning to Task:

assignment, chore, duty, job, business, capacity, function, part, place, position, purpose, role, work, assign, charge, commission, entrust, trust

Related Words for Task

chare, endeavor, enterprise, project, stint, undertaking, care, responsibility, mission, office, operation, post, errand, circuit, round, route, affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, employ, service

Word Forms of Task

Inflections: tasks, tasked, tasking

Origin & Etymology of Task

Middle English taske, from Middle French dialect (Picardy, Flanders) tasque, from Medieval Latin tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, alteration of *taxa, from taxare to tax

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Task

Words & Phrases Containing Task

task bar, task force, take to task, the task at hand, subtask

Frequently Asked Questions about Task

What does "Task" mean?

"Task" means a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Task"?

Other words for "Task" include assignment, chore, duty, job, business, capacity, function and part. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Task" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Task"?

There are 63 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Task". Common alternatives include assignment, chore, duty, job, business, capacity, function, part, place and position.

How do you use "Task" in a sentence?

Examples of "Task" in a sentence: "one of my tasks in the morning is to make lunches for everyone in the family"; "the forklift's task is to stack pallets of goods in the warehouse"; "I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year".

Is "Task" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Task" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Task" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Task" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Task"?

"Task" is pronounced /ˈtask/.

What is the origin of the word "Task"?

"Task" comes from Middle English taske, from Middle French dialect (Picardy, Flanders) tasque, from Medieval Latin tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, alteration of *taxa, from taxare to tax. First known use: 14th century.