Duty definition

do͝otē, dyo͝o-
duties
See word origin
Frequency:
The obedience or respect that one should show toward one's parents, older people, etc.
noun
13
7
The amount of work that a machine is meant to do; rated efficiency under specified conditions.
noun
8
3
The total volume of water required to irrigate a given area in order to cultivate a specific crop until harvest.
noun
3
0
Service, esp. military service.

Overseas duty.

noun
4
2
Conduct based on moral or legal obligation, or a sense of propriety.

One's duty to vote.

noun
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2
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The compulsion felt to meet such obligation.

Acting out of duty.

noun
1
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A tax charged by a government, especially on imports.
noun
1
1
A legally-defined responsibility to perform certain acts or meet certain standards of performance; an essential element of proof in a tort action is that the defendant had a duty to act in a certain manner, such as the duty to use due care in the operation of a motor vehicle. Duties may be mandated by law, such as the duty to pay taxes, or may be voluntary, such as those assumed under a contract.
noun
1
1
An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion.

The duties of being a critical care nurse.

noun
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0
Required action or service.

Jury duty; beyond the call of duty.

noun
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Active military service.

A tour of duty.

noun
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Moral or legal obligation.

It is your duty to tell the truth.

noun
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The application of something for a purpose; use.

The dining room table also does duty as a desk.

noun
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A measure of efficiency expressed as the amount of work done per unit of energy used.
noun
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A tax or payment imposed by a government on the goods that a company imports or exports. Goods that do not require the payment of a duty are called duty free.
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A duty that may be transferred to another.
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A duty that one must perform personally, and that may not be delegated to another.
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That which one is morally or legally obligated to do.

We don't have a duty to keep you here.

noun
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0
A period of time spent at work or doing a particular task.

I’m on duty from 6 pm to 6 am.

noun
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0
Describing a workload as to its idle, working and de-energized periods.
noun
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A tax placed on imports or exports; a tariff.
noun
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Any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position.

The duties of a secretary.

noun
2
3
The definition of a duty is something that is required by one's religion, job, position or the laws.

An example of a duty is the act of students completing homework assignments.

noun
1
2
(agric.) The amount of water needed for irrigation per acre per crop.
noun
1
2
(mil., etc.) An assigned period of responsibility, as a watch or sentry duty.

A duty sergeant.

noun
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2
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A sense or feeling of obligation.

Duty calls.

noun
1
3
(brit.) The performance of a machine as measured by the output of work per unit of fuel.
noun
1
3
A payment due to the government, esp. a tax imposed on imports, exports, or manufactured goods.
noun
0
2
duty bound
  • Obliged:
    You are duty bound to help your little sister and brother.
idiom
2
1
off duty
  • Not engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
idiom
0
1
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on duty
  • Engaged in or responsible for assigned work.
idiom
0
1
do duty for
  • to substitute for; serve as
idiom
0
1
on (or off) duty
  • officially engaged (or not officially engaged) in one's duties
idiom
0
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
duty
Plural:
duties

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

duty bound
do duty for
on (<i>or</i> off) duty

Origin of duty

  • Middle English duete from Anglo-Norman from due variant of Old French deu due due

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English duete, from Old French deu (“due”), past participle of devoir (“to owe”), from Latin debere (“to owe”), from de (“from”) + habere (“to have”).

    From Wiktionary

Duty Sentence Examples

  • The sheriff has a duty to investigate.

  • I'm off duty, you know.

  • He was on light duty, working only with small animals; and part time.

  • It was Carl's duty to sit outside of the king's bedroom and be ready to serve him at any time.

  • I'll agree, if I won't be second rung to your duty or other women.

More sentences

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near duty in the Dictionary