homework
homework — noun
1. exercises, reading, or other school-related tasks that a teacher expects a stude
exercises, reading, or other school-related tasks that a teacher expects a student to complete away from the classroom, usually at home in the evening or at the weekend.
Layla finished her geography homework before dinner so she could play outside.
collocation: geography homework / finish homework
The English teacher asked the class to hand in their homework on Friday morning.
hand in homework
Kwame struggled with the maths homework and asked his older sister for help.
Ritu's mother checked her homework every evening to make sure it was correct.
- assignment
emphasises a single, often graded task with a deadline; homework is broader and includes daily practice and reading
- schoolwork
more general term that includes both in-class and at-home tasks
- exercise
usually refers to a specific practice problem or drill rather than the full set of tasks
文法句型
do homework
homework on [subject]
用法筆記
Homework is an uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a homework' or 'two homeworks.' To refer to a countable task, use 'a homework assignment' or 'an assignment.' Do not confuse homework (schoolwork done at home) with housework (cleaning, cooking, and other household chores).
常見錯誤
2. research, reading, or other advance preparation that a person carries out before
research, reading, or other advance preparation that a person carries out before a meeting, discussion, or presentation so that they are well informed and ready to participate.
Christopher did his homework on the new software before the team meeting.
do your homework on [topic]
The lawyer's homework included reading all the previous court cases.
Sayaka had clearly done her homework, because every question received a thoughtful answer.
Before the neighbourhood council meeting, Eleni did her homework on the proposed park renovation plans.
- research
narrower, focusing on gathering information; homework in this sense includes broader preparation such as reading, note-taking, and analysis
- groundwork
emphasises the foundational work done before a project or initiative can start
- preparation
more general term that covers any advance arrangements, not just information-gathering
文法句型
do your homework on [topic]
用法筆記
This sense is common in professional and academic contexts. The verb phrase 'do your homework' is often used figuratively: 'We need to do our homework before the investor meeting.' Avoid using this sense in very informal speech about trivial matters — it carries a tone of serious preparation.