Task vs. Work: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
Task is a specific activity or duty, while Work refers to general effort or exertion.
Key Differences
Task denotes a specific assignment or duty, usually with a clear goal or end-point. Work, on the other hand, can refer to any physical or mental effort, often without a specified outcome.
A task can be seen as a subset of work. For instance, when one is at a job, the broader effort they put in is their work, but within that, they may have specific tasks they need to complete.
Both terms, task and work, imply some form of action or endeavor. However, a task often has a more definite time frame, while work can be ongoing and not necessarily tied to a deadline.
Tasks are generally more finite. Once a task is done, it's completed. Work, in contrast, can be continuous, like the work of an artist or a scientist, which evolves over time.
Tasks are typically actionable items, often short-term, and can be ticked off a list. Work can encompass a broad spectrum of activities, from daily routines to lifelong pursuits.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A specific activity or duty.
General effort or exertion.
Duration
Typically short-term with a clear endpoint.
Can be short-term or long-term and continuous.
Scope
Narrow, specific.
Broad, general.
Outcome
Clear, measurable result.
May or may not have a specified result.
Examples
Assignments, chores.
Job, career, artistry.
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Task and Work Definitions
Task
A mission or specific job.
Your task is to deliver this package safely.
Work
The mechanism or operation of something.
The gears in the clock were no longer in work.
Task
An action aiming to achieve a result.
It was his task to ensure the lights were off.
Work
Efforts made toward a goal.
His dedication to charity is admirable work.
Task
A unit of work in computing, often initiated by a user.
The computer executed multiple tasks simultaneously.
Work
Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something
Cleaning the basement was a lot of work.
Task
A piece of work assigned or done as part of one's duties.
Work
Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment
Looking for work.
Task
A difficult or tedious undertaking
Finding qualified people to fill these specialized roles was a real task.
Work
A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood
His work is fixing cars.
Task
A function to be performed; an objective
It is our task to renew consumer confidence.
Work
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking
Met her after work.
Task
To assign a task to or impose a task on
The agency was tasked with creating an advertising campaign.
Work
One's place of employment
Should I call you at home or at work?.
Task
(Archaic) To subject to strain or hardship
"The Professor's household was a modest one, and yet it tasked his ideas to keep it up to his wife's standard" (Edith Wharton).
Work
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task
Begin the day's work.
Task
A piece of work done as part of one’s duties.
The employee refused to complete the assignment, arguing that it was not one of the tasks listed in her job description.
Work
An amount of such activity either done or required
A week's work.
Task
Any piece of work done.
Work
The action or effect of an agency
The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Task
A difficult or tedious undertaking.
Work
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing
This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
Task
An objective.
Work
An act; a deed
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun.
And, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
Task
(computing) A process or execution of a program.
The user killed the frozen task.
Work
An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity
An early work of Matisse.
A scholarly work of great importance.
Task
(obsolete) A tax or charge.
Work
Works The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole
The works of Bach.
Task
(transitive) To assign a task to, or impose a task on.
On my first day in the office, I was tasked with sorting a pile of invoices.
Work
Works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
Task
(transitive) To oppress with severe or excessive burdens; to tax
Work
A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Task
(transitive) To charge, as with a fault.
Work
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
Task
Labor or study imposed by another, often in a definite quantity or amount.
Ma task of servile toil.
Each morning sees some task begin,Each evening sees it close.
Work
A piece of such textile art.
Task
Business; employment; undertaking; labor.
His mental powers were equal to greater tasks.
Work
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture
Work to be turned in the lathe.
Task
To impose a task upon; to assign a definite amount of business, labor, or duty to.
There task thy maids, and exercise the loom.
Work
Works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination
A steelworks.
Task
To oppress with severe or excessive burdens; to tax.
Work
Works Internal mechanism
The works of a watch.
Task
To charge; to tax, as with a fault.
Too impudent to task me with those errors.
Work
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Task
Any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted;
He prepared for great undertakings
Work
Abbr. w(Physics) The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Task
A specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee;
Estimates of the city's loss on that job ranged as high as a million dollars
The job of repairing the engine took several hours
The endless task of classifying the samples
The farmer's morning chores
Work
Works Moral or righteous acts or deeds
Salvation by faith rather than works.
Task
Assign a task to;
I tasked him with looking after the children
Work
(Informal) The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the
Ordered a pizza with the works.
Task
Use to the limit;
You are taxing my patience
Work
(Slang) A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the
Took him outside and gave him the works.
Task
A piece of work to be done or undertaken.
Her task for the day was to organize the files.
Work
Of, relating to, designed for, or engaged in work.
Task
A duty or responsibility.
The main task of the lifeguard is to ensure everyone's safety.
Work
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
Work
To be employed; have a job.
Work
To function; operate
How does this latch work?.
Work
To function or operate in the desired or required way
The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
Work
To have a given effect or outcome
Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.
Work
To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful
This recipe seems to work.
Work
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon
Worked on her to join the group.
Work
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement
The stitches worked loose.
Work
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously
Worked through the underbrush.
Worked through my problems in therapy.
Work
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion
Her mouth worked with fear.
Work
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed
Not all metals work easily.
Work
To ferment.
Work
To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.
Work
To sail against the wind.
Work
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear
The gears work against each other.
Work
To cause or effect; bring about
Working miracles.
Work
To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage
Worked the controls.
Can work a lathe.
Work
To shape or forge
"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Work
To make or decorate by needlework
Work a sampler.
Work
To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.
Work
To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation
Work the dough before shaping it.
Work
To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work
Finally worked the window open.
Worked the slaves to death.
Work
To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort
Worked her way to the top.
Worked his passage on the ship.
Work
(Informal) To arrange or contrive. Often used with it
Worked it so that her weekends are free.
Work
To make productive; cultivate
Work a farm.
Work
To cause to work
Works his laborers hard.
Work
To excite or provoke
Worked the mob into a frenzy.
Work
To gratify, cajole, or enchant artfully, especially for the purpose of influencing
The politician worked the crowd. The comedian worked the room with flawless rhythm.
Work
To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit
Learned how to work the system.
Worked his relatives for sympathy.
Work
To carry on an operation or function in or through
The agent who works that area.
Working the phones for donations.
Work
To ferment (liquor, for example).
Work
Employment.
Work
Labour, occupation, job.
My work involves a lot of travel.
Work
The place where one is employed.
He hasn’t come home yet; he’s still at work.
Work
(by extension) One's employer.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
Work
(dated) A factory; a works.
Work
Effort.
Work
Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Work
Sustained human effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
Work
Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
Work
(physics) A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
Work
A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process.
Work
(heading) Product; the result of effort.
Work
The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
Work
Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
Work
(countable) A literary, artistic, or intellectual production.
It is a work of art.
The poetic works of Alexander Pope
Work
(countable) A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
Work
The staging of events to appear as real.
Work
(mining) Ore before it is dressed.
Work
The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
Work
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
He’s working in a bar.
Work
Followed by in (or at, etc.) Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business).
I work in a national park
She works in the human resources department
He mostly works in logging, but sometimes works in carpentry
Work
Followed by as. Said of one's job title
I work as a cleaner.
Work
Followed by for. Said of a company or individual who employs.
She works for Microsoft
He works for the president
Work
Followed by with. General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts
You work with computers
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs
Work
(intransitive) To effect by gradual degrees;
To work into the earth
Work
(transitive) To effect by gradual degrees.
He worked his way through the crowd
The dye worked its way through
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand
Work
(transitive) To embroider with thread.
Work
(transitive) To set into action.
He worked the levers.
Work
(transitive) To cause to ferment.
Work
(intransitive) To ferment.
Work
(transitive) To exhaust, by working.
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
Work
(transitive) To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
Work
(transitive) To operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
Work
(transitive) To operate in or through; as, to work the phones.
Work
(transitive) To provoke or excite; to influence.
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
Work
(transitive) To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
Work
To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Work
(transitive) To cause to work.
He is working his servants hard.
Work
(intransitive) To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work;
My plan didn’t work
Work
To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
Work
(intransitive) To move in an agitated manner.
His fingers worked with tension.
A ship works in a heavy sea.
Work
(intransitive) To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily;
The soft metal works well
Work
To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
Work
To hurt; to ache.
Work
To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would never have thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
Work
Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor.
Man hath his daily work of body or mindAppointed.
Work
The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in handThat you yet know not of.
In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Work
That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
To leave no rubs or blotches in the work.
The work some praise,And some the architect.
Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements.
Work
Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery.
I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll have the work ta'en out,And give 't Iago.
Work
Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron works; locomotive works; gas works.
Work
Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct.
He shall reward every man according to his works.
Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.
Work
Break; twist.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness?
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you.
Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,Our life doth pass.
Work
Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
We bend to that the working of the heart.
Work
Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught.
She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him.
Work
To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded.
Work
To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea.
Confused with working sands and rolling waves.
Work
To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; - with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.
Till body up to spirit work, in boundsProportioned to each kind.
Work
To ferment, as a liquid.
The working of beer when the barm is put in.
Work
To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic.
Purges . . . work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, . . . in warm weather or in a warm room.
Work
To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.
He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time.
Work
To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth.
Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
Work
To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stainsOf rushing torrents and descending rains,Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines,Till by degrees the floating mirror shines.
Work
To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
Work
To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
Work
To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
Knowledge in building and working ships.
Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve.
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,Where they were wont to do.
Work
To cause to ferment, as liquor.
Tears of joy for your returning spilt,Work out and expiate our former guilt.
The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,Works up more fire and color in their cheeks.
Work
Activity directed toward making or doing something;
She checked several points needing further work
Work
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
Work
The occupation for which you are paid;
He is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
Work
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
Work
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Work
A place where work is done;
He arrived at work early today
Work
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force;
Work equals force times distance
Work
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity;
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Work
Be employed;
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
Work
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
Work
Perform as expected when applied;
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
Work
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
Work
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Work
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Work
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty;
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
Work
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity;
Work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Work
Move in an agitated manner;
His fingers worked with tension
Work
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Work
Cause to work;
He is working his servants hard
Work
Prepare for crops;
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
Work
Behave in a certain way when handled;
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
Work
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Work
Operate in or through;
Work the phones
Work
Cause to operate or function;
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Work
Provoke or excite;
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Work
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence;
The political candidate worked the crowds
Work
Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work
Move into or onto;
Work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
Work
Make uniform;
Knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
Work
Use or manipulate to one's advantage;
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
Work
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
Did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
Work
Cause to undergo fermentation;
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Work
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Work
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion;
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Work
Activity involving mental or physical effort.
He found work in construction.
Work
A job or occupation.
She started her new work at the bank.
Work
The result of an action or endeavor.
The sculpture is a work of art.
FAQs
Is a Task always short-term?
While tasks often have a clear end-point and are short-term, they can sometimes span longer durations.
Is there always a measurable outcome with Work?
No, work can be continuous without a definite measurable outcome.
What is a Task?
A task is a specific activity or duty, usually with a clear goal.
Can a job be both a Task and Work?
Yes, a job can be viewed as work in general, but within that job, there can be specific tasks to be completed.
How does the scope of a Task differ from Work?
A task usually has a narrower, specific scope, while work can encompass a broader range of activities.
How is a Task different in computing?
In computing, a task often refers to a specific unit of work initiated by a system or user.
Can Work be both a noun and a verb?
Yes, 'work' can refer to an activity (noun) or the act of doing something (verb).
Is every Task considered Work?
Yes, tasks are subsets of work as they require effort, but not all work can be broken down into specific tasks.
What does Work refer to?
Work refers to any general physical or mental effort, often without a specified outcome.
How does a Task relate to goals?
Tasks are often actionable items set to achieve specific goals or outcomes.
Can 'work' imply a continuous process?
Yes, work can be an ongoing process, like research or artistic creation.
Can the word 'work' refer to a piece of art?
Yes, a piece of art can be referred to as a 'work' or 'work of art'.
Does every Task require effort?
Generally, yes, a task implies some form of action or effort to reach completion.
Can multiple tasks be part of a single project?
Yes, a single project can consist of multiple tasks that contribute to its completion.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
