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task

A2
verbnoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /tˈɑːsk/

US

  • /ˈtæsk/

Description

A task is a piece of work that needs to be done. It might be something small, like washing the dishes, or something bigger, like writing a report. You can think of it as one item on a to-do list. Sometimes another person gives you a task. Other times, you choose it yourself because it needs to be done. A student may have the task of finishing an essay, and a worker may have the task of checking emails before a meeting. The word is often used for anything that takes effort, attention, and a clear action.

Imagine a busy bee flitting from flower to flower; each visit is a small task contributing to the larger goal of making honey. Or picture a team building a house; each worker has specific tasks, like hammering nails or laying bricks. Completing these individual tasks brings them closer to finishing the whole project.

Examples

  1. 1

    Morning priority

    My first task this morning is to reply to all the customer emails.

  2. 2

    Work duties

    One of my usual tasks at work is updating the weekly report.

  3. 3

    School assignment

    The teacher gave us the task of writing a short story about our town.

    • Pattern

      the task of doing X

      the job or duty of doing it

  4. 4

    Difficulty

    It was a difficult task, but we finished it before lunch.

  5. 5

    Assigned work

    She was tasked with training the new staff.

    • Pattern

      be tasked with + action

      be given the job of doing it

  6. 6

    Planning

    Try breaking the task into smaller steps if it feels overwhelming.

  7. 7

    Difficult responsibility

    Keeping the children quiet for three hours was no easy task.

    • Phrase

      no easy task

      quite difficult

  8. 8

    Current priority

    Let's focus on the task at hand and deal with the other problems later.

    • Phrase

      the task at hand

      the thing that needs attention now

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • tasknounverb

Forms

  • taskspluralnounverb
  • taskedpast tenseverbnoun
  • tasking-ing formverbnoun