Task

A task is a piece of work, duty, or activity that needs to be done, often within a set time or as part of a larger job or project.

A task is a piece of work, duty, or activity that needs to be done, often within a set time or as part of a larger job or project. The term is used both as a noun and as a verb, and in computing it can refer to a unit of execution by a computer program. In Canadian English, the word is used in the same general ways as in other varieties of English, including workplace, school, and computing contexts.

Meaning

Task is a general English word for work, duty, or an assigned activity that must be completed. It is often used for jobs that are difficult, routine, or tied to a deadline.

Verb use

As a verb, task means to assign work or responsibility to someone. Modern usage commonly appears in the passive form “be tasked with.”

Computing

In computing, a task can mean a unit of execution or work performed by a computer system or program. The term is related to process, thread, request, or query depending on context.

Word history

Reference sources trace task to older forms linked to imposed service or taxation. This history helps explain why the word still carries the sense of an assigned obligation.