homework
nounUK /ˈhəʊmˌwɜːk/ · US /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/
Etymology From home + work.
1
Usually Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class.
- You must do your homework before you can watch television.
- They will also be doing a few preparation homeworks for the practical CA during this time so it won't all be Unit1 focussed.2011 September 16, Pete Bell, “Increasing engagement in homework”, in The Guardian:
3 more examples
- Even 15-year-olds do no more than 30 minutes' homework a night.2013 July 1, Peter Wilby, “Finland's education ambassador spreads the word”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 Oct 2022:
- And I'm sympathetic to teachers who feel that they have enough to worry about, without adding A.I.-generated homework to the mix.2023 January 12, Kevin Roose, “Don't Ban ChatGPT in Schools. Teach With It.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 17 Jan 2023:
- Under the proposals, an assurance is given that GBR (in the words of the plan) will not be marking its own homework.2024 May 15, 'Industry Insider', “Labour's plan for the railway”, in RAIL, number 1009, page 68:
2
Broadly, Usually Something which one is encouraged to learn or study on one's own.
- The speaker had certainly done his homework before delivering the lecture.
- Since the whole world is watching this launch, they probably should've done some homework on their talking points.2012 April 10, John Hudson, “North Korea Has a Clumsy Way of Soothing Concerns About Its Rocket Launch”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 22 Jan 2022:
3 more examples
- Four years after her first sexual health book came out, Dr. Lori Brotto is giving her readers a little bit of homework for the bedroom.2017 May 9, “Mindful sex is better sex, says B.C. researcher promoting new workbook”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 22 Nov 2022:
- I didn't even know who he was until I did my homework and realised he was a premier footballer for Bayern.2022 July 18, Donald Mcrae, quoting Michael Yormark, “Roc Nation's Michael Yormark on Romelu Lukaku: 'You have to play to his strengths... I don't think that happened'”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Dec 2022:
- Nigeria had done their homework and were well organised. Halimatu Ayinde was exceptional in her marking of James, who had scored twice and provided three assists as she ran the show against China.2023 August 7, Suzanne Wrack, “England beat Nigeria on penalties to reach Women’s World Cup quarter-finals”, in The Guardian:
- Hatch perceived homework to be one tool—along with various workfare schemes and private sector training programs—that would take women off welfare and make poor women "independent."1989, Eileen Boris, Cynthia R. Daniels, Homework: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Paid Labor at Home, University of Illinois Press, →ISBN, page 241:
4
Euphemistic, Slang, Usually Sexual intercourse.
- My wife and I want a kid, and we do plenty of homework, but goddamn it, Dutch, I just can't connect.1933, James T. Farrell, Gas-House McGinty, page 186:
- Derived terms
- bit of homework, do one's homework, homework club, homework diary, homework folder, Homeworkgate, homeworkless, mark one's own homework, nonhomework, piece of homework, the dog ate my homework
- Related terms
- busy work