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Definition of homework
Examples of homework in a sentence.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'homework.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near homework
Cite this entry.
“Homework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homework. Accessed 28 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of homework, more from merriam-webster on homework.
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homework
Nglish: Translation of homework for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of homework for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homework
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homework noun
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What does the noun homework mean?
There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun homework . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the noun homework ?
| 1750 | 0.0054 |
| 1760 | 0.0036 |
| 1770 | 0.0017 |
| 1780 | 0 |
| 1790 | 0.0002 |
| 1800 | 0.0015 |
| 1810 | 0.0016 |
| 1820 | 0.0016 |
| 1830 | 0.0005 |
| 1840 | 0.0017 |
| 1850 | 0.0024 |
| 1860 | 0.0048 |
| 1870 | 0.0053 |
| 1880 | 0.0079 |
| 1890 | 0.02 |
| 1900 | 0.052 |
| 1910 | 0.098 |
| 1920 | 0.29 |
| 1930 | 0.53 |
| 1940 | 0.91 |
| 1950 | 1.3 |
| 1960 | 1.7 |
| 1970 | 2.6 |
| 1980 | 3.8 |
| 1990 | 5.3 |
| 2000 | 6.2 |
| 2010 | 6.6 |
How is the noun homework pronounced?
British english, u.s. english, where does the noun homework come from.
Earliest known use
The earliest known use of the noun homework is in the mid 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for homework is from 1653, in the writing of Edmund Chillenden, parliamentarian army officer and General Baptist leader.
homework is formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: home n. 1 , work n.
Nearby entries
- homeward-bounder, n. 1837–
- homeward-bound pennant, n. 1853–
- homewardly, adv. 1797–
- homewards, adv. & adj. Old English–
- homeware, n. 1782–
- home waters, n. 1838–
- home wear, n. 1836–
- home-whining, n. a1657
- home wind, n. 1732–
- home-woe, n. 1838–
- homework, n. 1653–
- homework club, n. 1900–
- homework diary, n. 1973–
- homeworker, n. 1843–
- homeworking, n. 1844–
- home-working, adj. 1850–
- home worship, n. 1849–
- homewort, n. Old English–
- home-wreck, n. 1845–
- home-wrecker, n. 1878–
- home-wrecking, n. 1878–
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Meaning & use
Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for homework, n..
homework, n. was revised in September 2011.
homework, n. was last modified in June 2024.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into homework, n. in June 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
A Supplement to the New English Dictionary (1933)
- Find out more
OED Second Edition (1989)
- View homework in OED Second Edition
Please submit your feedback for homework, n.
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Citation details
Factsheet for homework, n., browse entry.
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Definition of homework noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
- acquire/get/lack experience/training/(an) education
- receive/provide somebody with training
- develop/design/plan a curriculum/course/program/syllabus
- give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
- hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
- moderate/lead/facilitate a discussion
- sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
- go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
- be in the first, second, etc. grade (at school)
- study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
- finish/drop out of/quit school
- graduate from high school/college
- be the victim/target of bullying/teasing
- skip/cut/ ( informal ) ditch class/school
- cheat on an exam/a test
- get/be given a detention (for doing something)
- be expelled from/be suspended from school
- do your homework/a project on something
- work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/a paper
- finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies
- hand in/turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
- study/prepare/review/ ( informal ) cram for a test/an exam
- take/ ( formal ) sit for a test/an exam
- grade homework/a test
- do well on/ ( informal ) ace a test/an exam
- pass/fail/ ( informal ) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
- apply to/get into/go to/start college
- leave/graduate from college (with a degree in computer science)/law school
- study for/work towards a law degree/a degree in physics
- major/minor in biology/philosophy
- earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a Ph.D. in economics
Take your English to the next level
The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app
High school students typically have a lot of homework most days, and often that's true for younger students as well. In college, an increasing amount of school work is done outside of class, as homework (even if you do it in the library, a cafe, or a dorm). Homework originally referred to any work done at home, including cooking and cleaning. The first example of the "school work" meaning dates from the late 1880s.
- noun preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) synonyms: prep , preparation see more see less type of: school assignment , schoolwork a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher
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Meaning of homework – Learner’s Dictionary
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- Go upstairs and do your homework.
- For your homework, please do exercise 3 on page 24.
- When I finish my homework, can I watch TV?
- Get on with your homework.
- She was trying to duck out of doing her homework.
(Definition of homework from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Translations of homework
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1. : piecework done at home for pay. 2. : an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period. 3. : preparatory reading or research (as for a discussion or a debate) Examples of homework in a Sentence. She started her algebra homework.
Definition of homework noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
What does the noun homework mean? There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun homework . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
to study a subject or situation carefully so that you know a lot about it and can deal with it successfully: The company working on the project had clearly done their homework on universal design issues. (Definition of homework from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Examples of homework. homework.
noun. /ˈhoʊmwərk/. [uncountable] work that is given by teachers for students to do at home I still haven't done my geography homework. How much homework do you get? I have to write up the notes for homework. compare classwork Topic Collocations. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?
noun. schoolwork assigned to be done outside the classroom ( distinguished from classwork ). a single assignment of such schoolwork: Homeworks are due at the beginning of class. paid work done at home, as piecework. thorough preparatory study of a subject: to do one's homework for the next committee meeting. homework.
noun. 1. work, esp. piecework, done at home. 2. lessons to be studied or schoolwork to be done outside the classroom. 3. US. study or research in preparation for some project, activity, etc. : used mainly in the phrase do one's homework.
homework. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: School home‧work /ˈhəʊmwɜːk $ ˈhoʊmwɜːrk/ S2 noun [uncountable] 1 work that a student at school is asked to do at home → classwork For homework, finish the exercise on page 14. 2 if you do your homework, you prepare for an important activity by finding out ...
Any assignment you're expected to complete after school and bring back to class the next day is called homework. Many students make up excuses for not having their homework done. The "My dog ate my homework" excuse doesn't work so well in the digital age.
HOMEWORK definition: 1. work that teachers give students to do at home: 2. to prepare carefully for a situation: . Learn more.