meaning of assignment in a sentence

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Definition of assignment

task , duty , job , chore , stint , assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

Examples of assignment in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assignment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

see assign entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assignment

• self - assignment

Dictionary Entries Near assignment

Cite this entry.

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.

Legal Definition

Legal definition of assignment, more from merriam-webster on assignment.

Nglish: Translation of assignment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of assignment for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of assignment in English

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• It was a jammy assignment - more of a holiday really.
• He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East .
• His two-year assignment to the Mexico office starts in September .
• She first visited Norway on assignment for the winter Olympics ten years ago.
• He fell in love with the area after being there on assignment for National Geographic in the 1950s.
• act as something
• all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) idiom
• be at work idiom
• be in work idiom
• housekeeping
• in the line of duty idiom
• join duty idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

assignment | American Dictionary

Assignment | business english, examples of assignment, collocations with assignment.

These are words often used in combination with assignment .

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Translations of assignment

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scientific methods of solving crimes, that involve examining objects or substances related to a crime

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• American    Noun
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Other forms: assignments

Whether you’re an international spy with a new mission or a high school student with math homework — when you get an assignment , you’d better do it! An assignment is a task that someone in authority has asked you to do.

The word assignment is just the noun form of the common verb assign , which you use when you want to give someone a duty or a job. When you assign something, that something is called an assignment . The word can also refer to the act of distributing something. If you are distributing new office furniture at work, you might say, “ Assignment of the new chairs will begin tomorrow.”

• noun an undertaking that you have been assigned to do (as by an instructor) see more see less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... school assignment , schoolwork a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher writing assignment , written assignment an assignment to write something classroom project a school task requiring considerable effort classwork the part of a student's work that is done in the classroom homework , prep , preparation preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) lesson a task assigned for individual study type of: labor , project , task , undertaking any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
• noun a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces) “a hazardous assignment ” synonyms: duty assignment see more see less types: show 10 types... hide 10 types... guard , guard duty , sentry duty , sentry go the duty of serving as a sentry fatigue , fatigue duty labor of a nonmilitary kind done by soldiers (cleaning or digging or draining or so on) charge , commission , mission a special assignment that is given to a person or group reassignment assignment to a different duty sea-duty , service abroad , shipboard duty naval service aboard a ship at sea shore duty naval service at land bases fool's errand a fruitless mission mission impossible an extremely dangerous or difficult mission martyr operation , sacrifice operation , suicide mission killing or injuring others while annihilating yourself; usually accomplished with a bomb secondment the detachment of a person from their regular organization for temporary assignment elsewhere type of: duty work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons
• noun the act of putting a person into a non-elective position synonyms: appointment , designation , naming see more see less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... nomination the act of officially naming a candidate co-optation , co-option the act of appointing summarily (with or without the appointee's consent) delegacy the appointment of a delegate ordinance , ordination the act of ordaining; the act of conferring (or receiving) holy orders recognition designation by the chair granting a person the right to speak in a deliberative body laying on of hands laying hands on a person's head to invoke spiritual blessing in Christian ordination type of: conclusion , decision , determination the act of making up your mind about something
• noun the act of distributing something to designated places or persons “the first task is the assignment of an address to each datum” synonyms: assigning see more see less types: allocation , storage allocation (computer science) the assignment of particular areas of a magnetic disk to particular data or instructions type of: distribution the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning
• noun (law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance synonyms: grant see more see less types: apanage , appanage a grant (by a sovereign or a legislative body) of resources to maintain a dependent member of a ruling family land grant a grant of public land (as to a railway or college) type of: transferred possession , transferred property a possession whose ownership changes or lapses
• noun the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another see more see less type of: instrument , legal document , legal instrument , official document (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

Vocabulary lists containing assignment

The Dawes Act, or General Allotment Act of 1887, was a law that allowed the U.S. government to take Native American tribal lands and divide them into 40 acre lots for individual Native Americans. The goal was to break up communal tribal lands and speed the assimilation of Native Americans into American society. The Dawes Act caused great suffering with much of the land winding up in the hands of white settlers.

Learn these words from the autobiography by David Lubar (Inside: Level B, Unit 4). Here are our links to the selections of "Every Body Is a Winner": The Human Machine; My Fabulous Footprint , The Beat Goes On; All Pumped Up , Two Left Feet, Two Left Hands , How Coach Told Me; Bionics Here are our links to the units of Level B: Unit 1 , Unit 2 , Unit 3 , Unit 4 , Unit 5 , Unit 6 , Unit 7 , Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A , Level B , Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

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Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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• 2 [ uncountable ] the act of giving something to someone; the act of giving someone a particular task his assignment to other duties in the same company

Nearby words

Sentences with Assignment: 53 Examples for Better English

Here we will practice 53 sentences with assignment so that you can see just how it is used in natural, smooth English! To improve your English, I would recommend reading and repeating all of these sentences enough times so that you can say them comfortably.

Sentences with assignment

Here are the first 10 sentences with assignment . Read and repeat them all. If any of the sentences are tricky to pronounce, say them slowly a few times so that you can build up confidence with them.

• The assignment was due at the end of the week.
• Lucy worked diligently on her assignment.
• Their assignment was to be completed in a team.
• The teacher gave a challenging assignment.
• His first assignment was to write an essay.
• Each assignment helps develop new skills.
• The assignment requirements were clearly outlined.
• Their group project assignment was innovative.
• She asked for help with her math assignment.
• The assignment deadline was moved up.

Related: Asset In A Sentence: 41 Examples For Successful English

What does assignment mean?

Assignment means a task or piece of work given to students or workers. It can be anything from a school homework task to a work-related job. It is an English noun. The verb form is assign . We use that like this:

• I will assign you a new task tomorrow.

Common Situations for Using the word Assignment

• School: Homework or projects given to students.
• Work: Tasks or projects given to employees.
• Tasks: Any specific duties assigned for completion.

Synonyms for Assignment and Example Sentences

Here are 3 common synonyms for assignment. It’s always good to learn different ways to say something, or at least words that are related in meaning!

• Meaning: A piece of work to be done.
• Example sentence: The managers assigned a new task to the team.
• Meaning: A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility.
• Example sentence: It was her duty to complete the task on time.
• Meaning: A paid position of regular employment.
• Example sentence: He has a job as a truck driver.

Related: Sentences With Aspect: 53 Examples For English Practice

Sentences with assignment: part 2

Here is the second set of examples for sentences with assignment. Keep reading and repeating them to better remember the words and sentence patterns.

• In sports, training is a regular assignment.
• The artist’s newest assignment was a large mural.
• There was a significant challenge in his assignment – the deadline was pushed forward.
• Changing the routine can sometimes improve assignment quality.
• The assignment was completed ahead of schedule.
• He recorded the assignment details in his notebook.
• The weather could delay the outdoor assignment.
• They celebrated finishing the big assignment.
• His approach to the assignment was unconventional.
• The final project assignment was to create a portfolio.

Assignment in a sentence

Here is the next set of sentences with assignment:

• Completing the assignment gave them confidence.
• He worked on his assignment every evening.
• A head start on the assignment prevents last-minute stress.
• The assignment requirements were confusing at first.
• The plot twist was an exciting assignment for the writer.
• A surprise assignment can be tough to handle.
• The story starts with the protagonist’s assignment.
• She reviewed the guidelines for her assignment.
• Project assignment details are posted online.
• Completing the assignment brought group unity.
• Starting a new assignment is an opportunity to grow.
• They watched a video related to their assignment.
• An assignment can open doors to new experiences.
• His journalistic assignment took him abroad.
• Maria finished her assignment.
• Their assignment went as expected.
• He planned the assignment timetable efficiently.
• Departure from routine can make an assignment interesting.
• They discussed the assignment in detail.
• The instructor prepared them for the difficult assignment.

Questions with assignment

Here are some questions that use the word assignment. Use them to practice English conversation with. Try to answer them in full sentences! Use your imagination to answer them if you need to.

• What is your current assignment?
• How long do you need to complete this assignment?
• What was the most challenging assignment you ever had?
• Can you think of a time when an assignment changed your perspective?
• What is the most memorable assignment you’ve completed?
• How does working on an assignment help you learn?
• Describe a situation where a group assignment was beneficial.
• Do you enjoy starting a new assignment? Why or why not?
• How do you plan your time when given a big assignment?
• What assignment are you looking forward to next?

A paragraph about assignments

Below you will find a paragraph about an experience regarding the word “assignment.” You can use this paragraph as a model if you have any writing assignments of your own.

Assignments can be both demanding and rewarding. I remember when I got my first major assignment in high school. It was an essay on the impacts of climate change. I felt overwhelmed at first. The topic was broad, and I didn’t know where to start. After doing some research, I divided the assignment into smaller tasks. Each day, I focused on a different section. Slowly but surely, the essay took shape. I felt a mix of stress and excitement while working on it. My friends and I sometimes discussed our assignments and shared tips. By the time I finished, I had learned so much about the topic and about writing. Turning in the completed assignment gave me a sense of achievement. It taught me that breaking down a task can make it more manageable. In the end, the assignment helped me grow academically and personally.

Sentences with assignment: a useful word to know!

I hope you have enjoyed reading and repeating all of these examples for sentences with assignment ! Here are a final 3 sentences using assignment, gradually getting trickier:

• What is the next assignment?
• When is the assignment due?
• This assignment requires careful attention to detail.