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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 19 Apr. 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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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

Definitions on the go

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

is there plural for homework
  • 1933 , James T. Farrell , Gas-House McGinty , page 186 : My wife and I want a kid, and we do plenty of homework , but goddamn it, Dutch, I just can't connect.
  • ( BDSM ) Tasks assigned by a dominant for a submissive to perform when they are physically away from their dominant or otherwise free.
  • Usage notes [ edit ]

    • ( exercises assigned by a teacher ) The term homework generally implies that the work is mandatory and worth marks; exercises that are optional are usually referred to as practice problems , review problems , extra practice , exercises , etc.
    • ( exercises assigned by a teacher ) Work of a larger scale than homework (which involves a series of relatively simple exercises) is usually referred to as an assignment or project .

    Hypernyms [ edit ]

    Coordinate terms [ edit ], derived terms [ edit ].

    • bit of homework
    • do one's homework
    • homework club
    • homework diary
    • piece of homework
    • the dog ate my homework

    Translations [ edit ]

    See also [ edit ], references [ edit ], anagrams [ edit ].

    is there plural for homework

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    • English Only

    Homework - singular or plural?

    • Thread starter Mr_Croft
    • Start date Nov 19, 2007
    • Nov 19, 2007

    cuchuflete

    Senior Member

    I haven't ( have not) done it. It is singular. My homework is singular. It names the collective tasks I have to do. Bienvenido mr_Croft! Note: Some dictionaries describe this noun as "uncountable". There are many threads here about uncountable nouns. You may find them by using the forum Search feature, or by looking up the word "uncountable" in the WordReference English dictionary. It will display threads with that word in the title: Forum discussions with the word(s) 'uncountable' in the title: Countable and uncountable, depending on context! Countable, uncountable: asparagus Countable, uncountable: homework Uncountable nouns - an exercise is the word "cheese" uncountable? Countable, uncountable: mail, e-mail Countable, uncountable: broccoli, orange Countable, uncountable: advice, bread, cabbage, hair, onions Countable, uncountable: chocolate, chocolates Countable, uncountable: food Countable, uncountable: news Two uncountable nouns become plural? Countable, uncountable: peanuts, people Should the verb be singular or plural after two uncountable nouns? Countable and uncountable, depending on context! uncountable luck Biker, Sponsor: UNCOUNTABLE??? is or are with a list of uncountable Countable, uncountable: help Countable, uncountable: snow Two types of uncountable nouns. the use of articles with uncountable nouns Countable, uncountable: patience "Advice" - uncountable??? Tip (countable or uncountable)  

    panjandrum

    The last time we talked about this, everyone but me said that homework is not countable. Countable, uncountable: homework But in this particular example, even I would say: I haven't done my homework. Have you done your homework? I haven't done it yet. - - - even if I have homework to do in several different subjects.  

    Cambridge Dictionary

    • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

    Meaning of homework in English

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    • 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.
    • For homework I want you to write a paper on an endangered species .
    • academic year
    • access course
    • Advanced Placement
    • asynchronous
    • foundation course
    • immersion course
    • on a course
    • open admissions
    • the national curriculum
    • work placement

    homework | Intermediate English

    Homework | business english, examples of homework, translations of homework.

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    is there plural for homework

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    Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK

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    Learn more about our courses

    What’s the difference between homework and housework ?

    These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I’ll clarify that in today’s lesson, so that you can be sure to use the right word.

    And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.

    How to use HOMEWORK in English

    Homework refers to schoolwork that you do at home.

    So if you’re in class, your teacher might give you homework – maybe a worksheet, maybe a book/article to read, maybe an exercise to do or something to research – and then you do that homework outside of class, at home.

    Homework is usually extra practice or an additional assignment to help you practice what you learned inside class, or take your learning further.

    Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK Espresso English

    How to use HOUSEWORK in English

    Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment , the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes).

    So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.

    Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK Espresso English

    What about “chores”?

    One of my students asked if the word chores means the same thing as housework.

    Yes – chores is another word we can use for those things that you have to do around the house. Washing dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the toilet, and so on. You probably don’t really enjoy them, but they need to get done.

    And it’s also common to use this word chores you have a parent who makes their children help with these tasks. So the parent would say, “you have to do your chores.” You need to do those things around the house that you’re responsible for, like cleaning up your room or maybe helping with the laundry.

    Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK Espresso English

    HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK are always singular!

    Now here’s an important detail – the word chore is countable, so you can have one chore, two chores, three chores, or a lot of chores to do.

    But homework and housework are BOTH considered uncountable . So we always use them in the singular, always homework and housework, never homeworks or houseworks.

    They are singular even when they refer to multiple tasks. So even if you have multiple assignments to do and multiple things to do in your house, it’s still only homework and housework.

    You can talk about general quantity by saying a little homework/housework or a lot of homework/housework – but don’t use numbers, like “three homeworks,” and don’t add an S, “a lot of houseworks” – it’s not correct.

    WORK / WORKS

    This rule also applies to the word “work” – most of the time it’s singular.

    Don’t say “I have a lot of works to do.” – the correct way would be “I have a lot of work to do.” You can say tasks, you can say projects, you can say assignments, you can say things – those can all be plural, but work is typically singular.

    There’s one situation where we can say “works” and that’s specifically when we’re talking about works of art, works of music, or works of literature. So when we’re talking about productions in the artistic world, then sometimes we use works in the plural. For example, this is one of Picasso’s greatest works of art.

    But in everyday life, when talking about the work you have to do, it’s always work, singular and same with homework and housework, singular.

    Now you know the difference between homework and housework – and remember, doing homework is really important for reviewing and practicing what you learn!

    A lot of our courses at Espresso English include homework. Sometimes that’s a quiz so you can test yourself on the lesson, and sometimes the homework is a writing task or speaking task where you can send your answers to our teaching team and get correction and feedback.

    Our students often find this the most valuable part of our courses, because then you’re not just watching or reading or listening to me in English, but you’re also using English yourself. It really makes a difference in helping you learn and remember better.

    Join our courses to improve your English fast in just a few minutes a day!

    Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK Espresso English

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    Shayna Oliveira is the founder of Espresso English, where you can improve your English fast - even if you don’t have much time to study. Millions of students are learning English from her clear, friendly, and practical lessons! Shayna is a CELTA-certified teacher with 10+ years of experience helping English learners become more fluent in her English courses.

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    Definition of 'homework'

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    Video: pronunciation of homework

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    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
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    • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'H'

    Related terms of homework

    • do homework
    • school homework
    • homework exercise
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    Did you mean homework ?

    Don't say yes when caller asks 'Can you hear me now?'

    is there plural for homework

    Is someone asking "Can you hear me?" on the phone when you pick up? If so, hang up. It could be a scam.

    The "Can you hear me" scam has been targeting consumers for quite a few years. It's unclear exactly how the scam might play out, but consumer advocates, including the Better Business Bureau, say it's better to hang up and not engage.

    What's the danger of the can you hear me scam?

    It's likely the scammers are trying to get you to say "yes" or record your voice, which can then be used or edited to make it seem like you authorized something that you didn't, according to a scam alert from the BBB.

    The BBB said it continues to receive reports to its Scam Tracker, the organization's tool that keeps an eye on reported scams across the country.

    Usually, the caller will hang up immediately after you respond to the question "Can you hear me?," the alert said. However, some consumers report that the calls can also be about banking, vacation packages, warranties and Medicare cards, the BBB said. The callers may be impersonating a business like your bank or another financial institution, a government agency, or an insurance company, the agency said.

    “We encourage people to report this and other scams to BBB’s Scam Tracker," BBB spokeswoman Melanie McGovern told USA TODAY. "It helps to warn others that this activity is happening again. If you get a call, simply hang up without saying anything."

    The BBB said that so far, no reports in the Scam Tracker mention monetary loss, though the agency is unsure if any victims have reported losses to other authorities. "However, it’s unclear how the scams will play out over time or if the targets will be victimized later," the BBB said. 

    How does the can you hear me scam work?

    Here's how the scam works: You get a call from someone who quickly asks, “Can you hear me?” They want you to answer “Yes,” which you'd likely do instinctively, the BBB said.

    The call might even be awkward or the person on the other line may say they're having trouble with their headset or that they'll call you back, "but in fact, the 'person' may be a robocall recording your conversation, and that 'Yes' answer you gave could later be edited to make it sound like you authorized a major purchase," the BBB said in its alert.

    That yes could also confirm the scammer got a real working number, which could mean further targeting for scams, the BBB said.. The FCC in February issued a ruling making  artificial intelligence-generated voices in robocalls illegal. Still other variations of the scam, the BBB, said, may include asking "Is this (fill in your name)" or another question, which would prompt a yes from you. The caller may not hang up right away either and may continue the conversation to attempt to steal your personal information or record more of your voice," the BBB said.

    Beware: Pharmacist and her license were targeted by scammers. How to avoid becoming a victim.

    What should I do?

    Here are some tips from the BBB:

    ◾ Use Caller ID to screen calls and consider not answering numbers you don't know). If it's urgent, they'll call you back, the BBB said. The BBB suggests reading the FCC’s article on how to stop unwanted robocalls and texts.

    ◾ Just hang up.  Scammers will change their methods as the public catches on, the BBB said, so be on the lookout for other questions designed to get you to say "yes," the BBB said.

    ◾ Make a note of the number  and report it to  BBB.org/ScamTracker  to alert others. The BBB said it shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so all information is helpful.

    ◾ Join the Do Not Call Registry   (DoNotCall.gov) to limit telemarketing and sales calls. This might not cut down on scam calls, since they don't pay attention to the law, but it will cut down on your overall calls, the BBB said.

    ◾ Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for charges you didn't make. Also, review your telephone and cellphone bills, the BBB said. Scammers could use your "yes" to authorize charges you didn't really OK, the BBB said. "This is called 'cramming,' and it’s illegal. If you’re worried, notify your bank and credit card company. They may be able to put an alert on your accounts for unauthorized transactions or freeze your credit cards temporarily," the BBB said.

    Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @blinfisher . Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.

    IMAGES

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      is there plural for homework

    2. Plural activity

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      is there plural for homework

    4. Worksheet

      is there plural for homework

    5. Plural Words, Singular And Plural Nouns, Spelling Words, Cvc Words

      is there plural for homework

    6. Identify Singular and Plural Nouns Printable Worksheets for Grade 1

      is there plural for homework

    COMMENTS

    1. Is "homework" countable?

      Traditionally, it is not countable, and most dictionaries list it as such. However, the Merriam-Webster thesaurus (although not the Merriam-Webster dictionary) does have an entry for homeworks. Moreover, the plural form is used by at least some groups of educated native speakers. One's best bet is to try to find out if one's audience belongs to ...

    2. Homework Definition & Meaning

      How to use homework in a sentence. piecework done at home for pay; an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period… See the full definition

    3. homework

      homework meaning, definition, what is homework: work that a student at school is asked t...: Learn more. ... • Homework is an uncountable noun and is not used in the plural. ... have you done your French homework? • There were two more open airs during the week and somewhere in between all this activity the children had homework to complete.

    4. homework noun

      The homework assignments are worth 10% of the final grade. I have some homework to do on the Civil War. I want you to hand in this homework on Friday. The science teacher always gives a lot of homework. They get a lot of homework in English. They get masses of homework at secondary school. We had to write out one of the exercises for homework.

    5. HOMEWORK

      HOMEWORK definition: 1. work that teachers give their students to do at home: 2. work that teachers give their students…. Learn more.

    6. homework noun

      1 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 Education learning. acquire/get/lack experience/training/(an) education; receive/provide somebody with training

    7. What is the plural of homework?

      The noun homework can be countable or uncountable. In more general, commonly used, contexts, the plural form will also be homework . However, in more specific contexts, the plural form can also be homeworks e.g. in reference to various types of homeworks or a collection of homeworks. Find more words!

    8. countability

      2. In general, you should try to avoid saying "a homework." (As a native speaker, it sounds very strange) The best reason I can think of why it sounds strange is because the word is indefinite in size. Saying "a" homework contradicts its nature of being indefinite by assigning a size to something that is arbitrary.

    9. homework

      homework (usually uncountable, plural homeworks) Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class . You must do your homework before you can watch television. (by extension) Something which one is encouraged to learn or study on one's own. The speaker had certainly done his homework before delivering the lecture.

    10. HOMEWORK

      HOMEWORK meaning: 1. work that teachers give students to do at home: 2. to prepare carefully for a situation: . Learn more.

    11. nouns

      1. But if you set thirty exercises as homework then one 'unit' of homework would be thirty exercises, so 'exercise' isn't the unit for 'the homework received from one pupil'. - Pete Kirkham. Aug 9, 2018 at 15:01. @PeteKirkham All in all, "One exercise" can be a "Piece of homework" or "A part of assignment" .

    12. HOMEWORK definition and meaning

      3 meanings: 1. school work done out of lessons, esp at home 2. any preparatory study 3. work done at home for pay.... Click for more definitions.

    13. Homework

      It is singular. My homework is singular. It names. the collective tasks I have to do. Bienvenido mr_Croft! Note: Some dictionaries describe this noun as "uncountable". There are many threads here about uncountable nouns. You may find them by using the forum Search feature, or by looking up the word "uncountable" in the WordReference English ...

    14. Homework

      homework: 1 n preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) Synonyms: prep , preparation Type of: school assignment , schoolwork a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher

    15. HOMEWORK

      HOMEWORK meaning: 1. work that teachers give their students to do at home: 2. work that teachers give their students…. Learn more.

    16. homework

      The meaning of homework. Definition of homework. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

    17. Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK

      You can talk about general quantity by saying a little homework/housework or a lot of homework/housework - but don't use numbers, like ... you can say assignments, you can say things - those can all be plural, but work is typically singular. There's one situation where we can say "works" and that's specifically when we're ...

    18. HOMEWORK definition in American English

      homework in American English. (ˈhoumˌwɜːrk) noun. 1. schoolwork assigned to be done outside the classroom ( distinguished from classwork ) 2. paid work done at home, as piecework. 3. thorough preparatory study of a subject.

    19. HOMEWORK Definition & Usage Examples

      Homework definition: . See examples of HOMEWORK used in a sentence.

    20. Did "homework "have countable form?

      Homework is an uncountable noun, therefore it should be modified by much or a lot of, not many. Because it is an uncountable noun and is not used in the plural as it is always singular. I don't have much homework today The teacher gave us a lot of homework. Tim has four pieces of homework to complete for today.

    21. grammar

      In everyday, informal (especially spoken) English, native speakers commonly use "there's" (and derived forms) to introduce either a singular or plural. In more formal/careful usage, "there are" (and derived forms) generally appears to be preferred when the logical subject is plural. Yes, but in an interrogative sentence, when the being verb ...

    22. Inside the 'Can you hear me now' scam and why you should hang up

      The BBB said it continues to receive reports to its Scam Tracker, the organization's tool that keeps an eye on reported scams across the country. Usually, the caller will hang up immediately after ...