ENGLISH
REFERENCE

housework

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈhaʊˌswɝk// UK //hˈaʊswɜːk// house·work

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.


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.

Synonyms
Origin

From house + work. Cognate with Dutch huiswerk (“homework”).

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.

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