task
task
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /tɑːsk/
Syllable Breakdown:
tɑː
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/ɑː/ - long low front vowel
sk
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular: task
Plural: tasks
Verb: to task (meaning to assign a task or duty)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
(Noun)
Definition: A piece of work that needs to be done; a duty or responsibility.
Synonyms: job, chore, duty, assignment, mission
Antonyms: rest, leisure, idleness
(Verb)
Definition: To assign a task or duty to someone.
Synonyms: charge, commission, assign, delegate
Antonyms: release, free, exempt
(Adjective)
Definition: Difficult or demanding; requiring a lot of effort.
Synonyms: arduous, onerous, strenuous, challenging
Antonyms: easy, simple, effortless
Examples of Use
(Noun)
Book: "The task of writing a novel is a daunting one." (Stephen King, On Writing)
Newspaper: "The government has assigned the task of rebuilding the city to a team of experts." (New York Times)
Online Publication: "One of the most common tasks for a social media manager is creating engaging content." (Buffer Blog)
Movie: "The heroes face a difficult task of saving the world from destruction." (The Avengers)
Public Discourse: "It's a national task to address the issue of climate change." (A political speech)
(Verb)
Book: "The teacher tasked the students with writing a research paper." (A textbook)
Newspaper: "The company tasked its employees with increasing sales by 10%." (Wall Street Journal)
Online Publication: "I tasked my assistant with scheduling meetings for the week." (A productivity blog)
TV Show: "The detective tasked his team with finding the missing person." (CSI)
Public Discourse: "The government tasked the military with providing disaster relief." (A news report)
(Adjective)
Book: "The task of climbing Mount Everest is a daunting one." (A travel guide)
Newspaper: "The task of rebuilding the infrastructure after the hurricane was a massive undertaking." (The Washington Post)
Online Publication: "The task of learning a new language can be challenging." (Duolingo)
Movie: "The hero faces a task impossible mission." (Mission: Impossible)
Public Discourse: "The task of achieving world peace is a noble but difficult one." (A speech by a world leader)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Task
"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
— Albert Einstein"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
— C.S. Lewis"The hardest task in the world is to think."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson"The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive."
— Joe Batten"It is the task of a good man to help those in misfortune."
— Sophocles"It is not our task to secure the future, but to be worthy of it."
— Dag Hammarskjöld"The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson"The supreme task of the physicist is to arrive at those universal elementary laws from which the cosmos can be built up by pure deduction."
— Albert Einstein"No task is too big or too small for the person who is determined to succeed."
— Anonymous"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already."
— John Buchan
Etymology
The word "task" comes from an Old French word called "tasque," which meant a "tax" or a "duty." Over time, the meaning shifted from a financial obligation to a general duty or responsibility.
So, originally, "task" referred to something you had to do, like paying taxes. But later on, people started using it to mean any kind of job or chore.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Task
Common Phrases:
To be up to the task: To be capable of handling a difficult or challenging job.
A daunting task: A very difficult or intimidating job.
To have one's work cut out for one: To have a difficult or challenging task ahead.
To be tasked with: To be given a responsibility or duty.
Lesser-Known Phrases:
A thankless task: A job that is difficult or unpleasant and not appreciated.
A Sisyphean task: A futile or unending task, referring to the Greek myth of Sisyphus who was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down again.
To be in over one's head: To be faced with a task that is too difficult or challenging for one's abilities.
Idioms with Synonyms:
To be on the hot seat: To be in a difficult or stressful situation.
To be under the gun: To be under a lot of pressure to complete a task.
To be in a pickle: To be in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
To be between a rock and a hard place: To be in a difficult situation with no easy solutions.
Posts Related to Task
Source Information
Definition of task from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
