Word
housework
Phoneticshouse·work, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhaʊˌswɝk/
UK/hˈaʊswɜːk/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the work you do to keep a home clean and tidy, such as cleaning floors or washing clothes. It is the regular chores that happen inside the house.
n. the routine tasks involved in the maintenance and cleaning of a home. Often contrasted with 'homework', which refers to school assignments.
Examples
“I usually do the housework on Saturday mornings.”
“They decided to share the housework equally, with one person cooking and the other cleaning the kitchen.”
“The introduction of labor-saving appliances in the mid-twentieth century was expected to reduce the time spent on housework, yet standards of domestic cleanliness rose simultaneously.”
Examples
simple
“I usually do the housework on Saturday mornings.”
contextual
“They decided to share the housework equally, with one person cooking and the other cleaning the kitchen.”
complex
“The introduction of labor-saving appliances in the mid-twentieth century was expected to reduce the time spent on housework, yet standards of domestic cleanliness rose simultaneously.”
Usage
Uncountable; takes a singular verb and cannot be used with 'a' or in a plural form.
Pitfall
I have many houseworks to do.
I have a lot of housework to do.
Housework is uncountable and does not have a plural form.
Etymology
From house + work. Cognate with Dutch huiswerk (“homework”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/housework