homework
Very High (A1)Neutral to Formal. Informal equivalents exist (e.g., 'prep', 'assignments').
Definition
Meaning
Work assigned by a teacher to be completed outside of class.
Any preparatory work or research done in advance of an activity; thorough preparatory investigation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Uncountable noun. Cannot be pluralized as 'homeworks'. Use quantifiers like 'some homework', 'a lot of homework', 'a piece of homework'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept is identical. Slight preference in UK for 'prep' in certain private school contexts, but 'homework' is overwhelmingly standard in both.
Connotations
Universally associated with school/student life. Can carry negative connotations of obligation and boredom, or positive connotations of diligence.
Frequency
Extremely high and consistent frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
do [one's] homework on [topic]have [no/some/a lot of] homeworkset homework for [class]give [someone] homeworkVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “do your homework (on something) = to prepare thoroughly by researching.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'We did our homework before the merger talks.'
Academic
Literal: 'The professor sets weekly homework.' Also used in pedagogy research.
Everyday
Literal, concerning schoolchildren: 'Have you done your homework?'
Technical
Rare. Possibly in educational technology or scheduling systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'Homework' is not a verb. Use 'to do homework'.
American English
- N/A - 'Homework' is not a verb. Use 'to do homework'.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No direct adverbial form. Use 'as homework'.
- The teacher asked us to complete it as homework.
American English
- N/A - No direct adverbial form. Use 'for homework'.
- We need to read chapter five for homework.
adjective
British English
- The homework deadline is Friday.
- She has a heavy homework load this term.
American English
- The homework assignment is due Monday.
- He's struggling with the homework problem set.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I do my homework every evening.
- The children have no homework today.
- My maths homework is difficult.
- Could you help me with my history homework?
- Our teacher sets too much homework over the holidays.
- I forgot to hand in my homework.
- Before investing, it's crucial to do your homework on the company's financials.
- The amount of homework expected at university came as a shock.
- She diligently completes her homework ahead of time.
- The committee's report was criticised for lacking the necessary homework on the social impacts.
- His negotiating position was strong because he had thoroughly done his homework.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOME + WORK = work you do at home (from school).
Conceptual Metaphor
EDUCATION IS WORK / KNOWLEDGE IS A PRODUCT (to be produced/completed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'хомяк' (hamster).
- Avoid translating as 'домработница' (housekeeper).
- Remember it's uncountable.
Common Mistakes
- Using as countable: 'I have three homeworks.' (Incorrect) -> 'I have three pieces of homework.'
- Confusing with 'housework' (chores like cleaning).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence is CORRECT?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'homework' is an uncountable noun. You can say 'pieces of homework', 'homework assignments', or just 'homework'.
'Homework' is schoolwork. 'Housework' is domestic chores like cleaning, cooking, and washing.
Yes, but the more formal term 'assignment' or 'coursework' is often used. 'Homework' is still common, especially in lower-level or informal contexts.
It means to research and prepare thoroughly before a meeting, negotiation, or decision.
Collections
Part of a collection
Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.