- More from M-W
- To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In
Definition of homework
Examples of homework in a sentence, 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 15 Nov. 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
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Word of the day.
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Popular in Grammar & Usage
How to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), plural and possessive names: a guide, the difference between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.', why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word, what's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism', popular in wordplay, 8 words with fascinating histories, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, birds say the darndest things, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 10 scrabble words without any vowels, games & quizzes.
Definition of 'homework'
It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.
To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.
homework in American English
Homework in british english, examples of 'homework' in a sentence homework, related word partners homework, trends of homework.
View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years
Browse alphabetically homework
- homeward journey
- homework assignment
- homework club
- homework diary
- All ENGLISH words that begin with 'H'
Related terms of homework
- do homework
- school homework
- homework exercise
- View more related words
Wordle Helper
Scrabble Tools
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Score: 0 / 5
- Access the entire site, including the Easy Learning Grammar , and our language quizzes.
- Customize your language settings. (Unregistered users can only access the International English interface for some pages.)
- Submit new words and phrases to the dictionary.
- Benefit from an increased character limit in our Translator tool.
- Receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news, exclusive content, and offers.
- Be the first to enjoy new tools and features.
- It is easy and completely free !
Words and phrases
Personal account.
- Access or purchase personal subscriptions
- Get our newsletter
- Save searches
- Set display preferences
Institutional access
Sign in with library card
Sign in with username / password
Recommend to your librarian
Institutional account management
Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic
homework noun
- Hide all quotations
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 ?
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–
Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary
To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.
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.
Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.
Citation details
Factsheet for homework, n., browse entry.
- Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
Meaning of homework – Learner’s Dictionary
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
- 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
Get a quick, free translation!
Word of the Day
If something is spoken for, it is not available because someone has already bought or asked for it.
A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)
Learn more with +Plus
- Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
- Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
- Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
- Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
- English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
- English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
- English–Dutch Dutch–English
- English–French French–English
- English–German German–English
- English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
- English–Italian Italian–English
- English–Japanese Japanese–English
- English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
- English–Polish Polish–English
- English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
- English–Spanish Spanish–English
- English–Swedish Swedish–English
- Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
- do your homework
- Translations
- All translations
To add homework to a word list please sign up or log in.
Add homework to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
{{message}}
Something went wrong.
There was a problem sending your report.
- Dictionaries home
- American English
- Collocations
- German-English
- Grammar home
- Practical English Usage
- Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
- Word Lists home
- My Word Lists
- Recent additions
- Resources home
- Text Checker
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
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
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. Recent Examples on the Web.
A1. work that teachers give their students to do at home: do your homework You can't watch TV until you've done your homework. history / geography homework. Fewer examples. The kids are busy with their homework. My science teacher always sets a lot of homework. "Have you got any homework tonight?" "No." I got A minus for my English homework.
Homework is a set of tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed at home. Common homework assignments may include required reading, a writing or typing project, mathematical exercises to be completed, information to be reviewed before a test, or other skills to be practiced. The benefits of homework are debated.
Homework is schoolwork that teachers give to students to do at home in the evening or on the weekend.
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.
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.
HOMEWORK definition: 1. work that teachers give students to do at home: 2. to prepare carefully for a situation: . Learn more.
Definition of homework noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
HOMEWORK meaning: 1 : work that a student is given to do at home; 2 : research or reading done in order to prepare for something used in the phrase {phrase}do your homework {/phrase}
Homework definition: Work, such as schoolwork or piecework, that is done at home.