# errand

/ˈɛɹənd/ (US) · /ˈɛɹənd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/errand
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a short trip you take to do a specific task, like going to the post office or buying groceries.

For teachers: a short journey undertaken to deliver or collect something, or to perform a specific task on behalf of oneself or another.

## Examples

- I have to run a quick errand before we meet for lunch.
- She spent the entire Saturday morning running errands, including a trip to the dry cleaners and the bank.
- The protagonist's simple errand to deliver a letter soon evolves into a complex journey that forces him to confront his past and the changing landscape of his hometown.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the verb 'run' ('to run an errand').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.