task

The word “task” means a specific piece of work that needs to be done. In plain terms, a job or piece of work to be done, or to formally assign someone to do it.

“Task” is pronounced tahsk (/tæsk/ in IPA).

Here is “task” used in a sentence: “Cleaning the garage was today's first task.”

Words with a similar meaning to “task” include chore, job, objective and goal.

Depending on how it is used, “task” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “task” comes from Latin. From Old Northern French tasque, ultimately from Latin taxō, meaning to assess or charge — making "task" a doublet of "tax.".

“Task” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Task” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a specific piece of work that needs to be done.

A task is a single, specific piece of work, usually completed in one effort or sitting. A project is larger, made up of many related tasks organised toward a broader outcome. In short, a project is the whole; tasks are the individual steps that move it forward and eventually complete it.

Both are pieces of work, but a chore is routine, often unglamorous household or maintenance work done regularly. A task is more neutral and can be one-off or work-related. Every chore is a task, yet not every task is a dull, repetitive chore that you would call a chore.

Tasks are often grouped as simple or complex, routine or one-off, and by priority — urgent, important, or low-value. In project management they may be dependent, waiting on another to finish, or parallel. Personal to-do lists tend to split them into work, household, and administrative tasks.

Examples include replying to an email, washing the dishes, filing a report, or booking an appointment. A task is any single, defined piece of work with a clear start and finish — small enough to describe in a short phrase and tick off once it is done.