chore

noun

ˈchȯr How to pronounce chore (audio)
Synonyms of chore
1
chores plural : the regular or daily light work of a household or farm
2
: a routine task or job
The children were each assigned household chores.
3
: a difficult or disagreeable task
doing taxes can be a real chore

Synonyms of chore

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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.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

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

the job of turning the company around

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

every child was assigned chores

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

a 2-month stint as a reporter

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

a reporter's assignment

Examples of chore in a Sentence

The children were each assigned different household chores. I liked the simple chore of bringing in the firewood. Doing taxes can be a real chore. That movie is a chore to sit through.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Use the Right Cleaning Products Like with any cleaning chore, using the right cleaning products is essential for making the task infinitely easier. — Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 23 Oct. 2026 Airbnb guests can say goodbye to checkout chores like washing dishes, stripping beds and taking out the trash under a new policy announced this week. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Think of your home as a simulated work environment in which everyday chores — like unloading the dishwasher or gathering ingredients for a meal – are a chance to learn. — John Gill, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 Without to-do lists or chores, breathing in the fresh ocean air, my son and I were able to connect and share the pleasure of great food. — Amanda Eyre Ward, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chore

Word History

Etymology

alteration of chare

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chore was in 1746

Rhymes for chore

See All Rhymes for chore

Browse Nearby Words

chordwise
chore
chorea
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Cite this Entry

“Chore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chore. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chore

noun
ˈchō(ə)r How to pronounce chore (audio)
ˈchȯ(ə)r
1
plural : the regular light work of a household or farm
2
: an ordinary task
3
: a dull, unpleasant, or difficult task
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