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Definition of homework

Examples of homework in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'homework.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near homework

Cite this entry.

“Homework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homework. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of homework, more from merriam-webster on homework.

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homework

Nglish: Translation of homework for Spanish Speakers

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homework

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Definition of 'homework'

Video: pronunciation of homework

homework in British English

Homework in american english, examples of 'homework' in a sentence homework, cobuild collocations homework, trends of homework.

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Browse alphabetically homework

• homeward journey
• homework assignment
• homework club
• homework diary
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'H'

Related terms of homework

• do homework
• school homework
• homework exercise
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Definition of homework noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• I always do my homework on the bus.
• physics/geography/French, etc. homework
• I still haven't done my geography homework.
• How much homework do you get?
• for homework I have to write up the notes for homework.
• (especially North American English) I have to finish this homework assignment .
• acquire/​get/​lack (an) education/​training/ (British English) (some) qualifications
• receive/​provide somebody with training/​tuition
• develop/​design/​plan a curriculum/ (especially British English) course/ (North American English) program/​syllabus
• give/​go to/​attend a class/​lesson/​lecture/​seminar
• hold/​run/​conduct a class/​seminar/​workshop
• sign up for/​take a course/​classes/​lessons
• go to/​start preschool/​kindergarten/​nursery school
• be in (North American English) the first, second, etc. grade/ (British English) year 1, 2. etc. (at school)
• study/​take/​drop history/​chemistry/​German, etc.
• (British English) leave/​finish/​drop out of/ (North American English) quit school
• (North American English) graduate high school/​college
• be the victim/​target of bullying
• (British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/​skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
• (both especially North American English) skip/​cut class/​school
• (British English) cheat in/ (North American English) cheat on an exam/​a test
• get/​be given a detention (for doing something)
• be expelled from/​be suspended from school
• do your homework/ (British English) revision/​a project on something
• work on/​write/​do/​submit an essay/​a dissertation/​a thesis/​an assignment/ (North American English) a paper
• finish/​complete your dissertation/​thesis/​studies/​coursework
• hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/​essay/​assignment/​paper
• study/​prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/​an exam
• take/ (both British English) do/​sit a test/​an exam
• (especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/​a test
• (British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (especially North American English, informal) ace a test/​an exam
• pass/​fail/ (especially North American English, informal) flunk a test/​an exam/​a class/​a course/​a subject
• apply to/​get into/​go to/​start college/ (British English) university
• leave/​graduate from law school/​college/ (British English) university (with a degree in computer science)
• study for/​take/ (British English) do/​complete a law degree/​a degree in physics
• (both North American English) major/​minor in biology/​philosophy
• earn/​receive/​be awarded/​get/​have/​hold a master’s degree/​a bachelor’s degree/​a PhD in economics
• Have you finished your homework?
• Have you done your physics homework yet?
• I was helping my sister with her maths homework.
• The homework assignments are worth 10% of the final grade.
• I have some homework to do on the Civil War.
• I want you to hand in this homework on Friday.
• The science teacher always gives a lot of homework.
• They get a lot of homework in English.
• They get masses of homework at secondary school.
• We had to write out one of the exercises for homework.
• for homework
• homework  on

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• You could tell that he had really done his homework (= found out all he needed to know) .

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homework noun

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What does the noun homework mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun homework . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun homework ?

How is the noun homework pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun homework come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun homework is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for homework is from 1653, in the writing of Edmund Chillenden, parliamentarian army officer and General Baptist leader.

homework is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: home n. 1 , work n.

Nearby entries

• homeward-bounder, n. 1837–
• homeward-bound pennant, n. 1853–
• homewardly, adv. 1797–
• homewards, adv. & adj. Old English–
• homeware, n. 1782–
• home waters, n. 1838–
• home wear, n. 1836–
• home-whining, n. a1657
• home wind, n. 1732–
• home-woe, n. 1838–
• homework, n. 1653–
• homework club, n. 1900–
• homework diary, n. 1973–
• homeworker, n. 1843–
• homeworking, n. 1844–
• home-working, adj. 1850–
• home worship, n. 1849–
• homewort, n. Old English–
• home-wreck, n. 1845–
• home-wrecker, n. 1878–
• home-wrecking, n. 1878–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for homework, n..

homework, n. was revised in September 2011.

homework, n. was last modified in September 2023.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into homework, n. in September 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

A Supplement to the New English Dictionary (1933)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View homework in OED Second Edition

Please submit your feedback for homework, n.

Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.

Citation details

Factsheet for homework, n., browse entry.

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home•work

An assignment is a task that someone is given to do, usually as part of their job.

An assignment is also a piece of academic work given to students.

In American English, an assignment is also a piece of work given to students to do at home.

Work given to schoolchildren to do at home is also called homework .

Be Careful! Homework is an uncountable noun. You do not talk about 'homeworks' or 'a homework'. Note that you do not say ' I have made my homework '. You say 'I have done my homework'.

Homework is work that school pupils are given to do at home. You say that pupils do homework. Don't say that they ' make homework '.

Housework is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house.

Be Careful! Both homework and housework are uncountable nouns. Don't talk about ' a homework ' or ' houseworks '.

• assignability
• best of all
• brain-teaser
• change magnitude
• concentrate
• homeshoring
• homesickness
• Home-speaking
• Homestead Act
• homestead exemption
• homestead law
• homesteader
• homesteading
• homestretch
• Homeward bound
• homeward(s)
• homeward-bound
• homework problem
• homeworking
• homewrecker
• homichlophobia
• homicide bomber
• Homicide by misadventure
• homicidomania
• homiletical
• homing adaptor
• homing device
• homing guidance
• hometraining
• Hometronic Internet Module
• HomeVestors of America, Inc.
• Homeward Bound
• Homeward Bound (disambiguation)
• Homeward Bound Animal Rescue Inc.
• Homeward Bound Greyhound Association
• Homeward Bound Theatre Company
• Homeward Trail Bible Camp
• homeward-boundly
• Homewood City Schools
• Homewood Institutional Review Board
• Homewood Maitland Safety Association
• Homewood Musical Instrument Co.
• Homewood-Flossmoor Swim Club, Inc.
• Homework Access Line
• Homework assignment
• Homework Assistance Hotline
• Homework Center
• Homework Diary
• Homework help
• Homework hotline
• Homeworkers
• Homeworkers Organized for More Employment
• Homeworkers' Union and Small Business Association
• Homeworking
• Facebook Share

• Dictionary entries
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• Meaning of homework

homework ( English)

Origin & history, pronunciation.

• IPA: /ˈhoʊmˌwɜrk/
• Work that is done at home , especially school exercises assigned by a teacher .
• " Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16.[…]Children address teachers by their first names. Even 15-year-olds do no more than 30 minutes' [ sic ] homework a night. "    You must do your homework before you can watch television.‎
• Preliminary or preparatory work, such as research.    The speaker had certainly done his homework before delivering the lecture.‎
• See citations:homework

▾  Further examples

Danielle Lloyd doesnt see the point in school homework and has called for it to be abolished. Female First, 30 May 2019

Pittsburgh school officials are investigating inappropriatehomework assigned to first graders about children running from a police officer. MiamiHerald.com, 27 September 2019

A Missouri elementary school has come under fire after a teacher gave out a homework assignment that asked fifth-grade students what they would charge for slaves. Mail Online, 10 December 2019

Pupils in Hull were assigned pornography homework but not told the internet was banned for research. BBC News, 20 May 2020

A mum has asked for help with her seven-year-old son’s maths homework after it completely baffled her – and a woman with a maths PhD. news.com.au, 1 October 2020

In an interaction with kids on a TV show, the 'run-machine' recalled how he would get stressed when his homework would still be pending after the vacation holidays. The Times of India, 14 May 2020

The Green Party has promised to ‘explore’ the scrapping of homework for primary school students in its manifesto. Independent.ie, 25 January 2020

▾  Dictionary entries

Entries where "homework" occurs:

läksy : läksy (Finnish) Origin & history From Swedish läxa ("homework"). Noun läksy homework (school exercise set by a teacher); often used in plural, especially as an object with verbs tehdä ("to do"), lukea ("to read")…

宿題 : see also 宿题‎ 宿題 (Chinese) trad. 宿題, simpl. 宿题 Pronunciation Mandarin: sùtí Cantonese: suk1 tai4 Min Nan: siok-tê/siok-tôe Noun 宿題 (Japanese or Korean) homework ; assignment 宿題 (Japanese) Noun 宿題 (しゅくだい)…

-ni : …subject "I", appended to :    Tehdäkseni läksyni hyvin (minä) menin hiljaiseen huoneeseen.    (In order) to do my homework well, I went into a quiet room. (possessive) Used in some , when the clause has the subject "I".    Olen…

-si : …appended to :   • Tehdäksesi läksysi hyvin (sinä) menit hiljaiseen huoneeseen.   • * (In order) to do your homework well, you went into a quiet room. (possessive) Used in some , when the clause has the subject "you" (addressing one…

-mme : …subject "we", appended to :   • Tehdäksemme läksymme hyvin (me) menimme hiljaiseen huoneeseen.‎ (In order) to do our homework well, we went into a quiet room.‎ (possessive) Used in some , when the clause has the subject "we"…

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Cite this page : "homework" – WordSense Online Dictionary (24th April, 2024) URL: https://www.wordsense.eu/homework/

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homeworker (English)

homeworkers (English)

homeworking (English)

homeworkless (English)

homeworks (English)

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stayne , ゴルァ (Japanese)

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  Vocabulary      

What does homework mean?

Definitions for homework ˈhoʊmˌwɜrk home·work, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word homework ., princeton's wordnet rate this definition: 3.8 / 4 votes.

homework, prep, preparation noun

preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)

GCIDE Rate this definition: 1.0 / 1 vote

• homework noun

Paid work done at home, especially piecework.

Wiktionary Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

Work that is done at home, especially school exercises set by a teacher.

You must do your homework before you can watch television.

Preliminary or preparatory work, such as research.

The speaker had certainly done his homework before delivering the lecture.

Wikipedia Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

Homework is a set of tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside the classroom. Common homework assignments may include required reading, a writing or typing project, mathematical exercises to be completed, information to be reviewed before a test, or other skills to be practiced. The effects of homework are debated. Generally speaking, homework does not improve academic performance among young children. Homework may improve academic skills among older students, especially lower-achieving students. However, homework also creates stress for students and parents, and reduces the amount of time that students can spend in other activities.

ChatGPT Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

Homework refers to tasks or assignments given to students by their teachers that are expected to be completed outside of regular school hours. These assignments are usually related to the topics being taught in class and serve to reinforce learning, practice new skills, and prepare students for upcoming lessons or assessments. Homework can take various forms such as reading, writing, problem-solving, researching, or completing exercises. It is designed to encourage independent study, time management, and responsibility in students.

Wikidata Rate this definition: 4.8 / 4 votes

Homework, or homework assignment, refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside of class. Common homework assignments may include a quantity or period of reading to be performed, writing or typing to be completed, problems to be solved, a school project to be built, or other skills to be practiced.

Matched Categories

• School Assignment

British National Corpus

Written Corpus Frequency

Rank popularity for the word 'homework' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2123

How to pronounce homework?

Alex US English David US English Mark US English Daniel British Libby British Mia British Karen Australian Hayley Australian Natasha Australian Veena Indian Priya Indian Neerja Indian Zira US English Oliver British Wendy British Fred US English Tessa South African

How to say homework in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of homework in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

Pythagorean Numerology

The numerical value of homework in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of homework in a Sentence

Priya Venkat :

After toting around parent-teacher conferences and checking my children’s homework , I became alarmingly aware that the education my children were receiving in school fell short.

Christy Taylor :

He didnt understand the magnitude, he hung up and went upstairs to do his homework .

Sang Dae Kim :

At this point in time we can build a tower that is one kilometer, maybe two kilometers. Any higher than that and we will have to do a lot of homework .

Ben Telerski :

It is not in the spirit of BeReal and entirely defeats the purpose, beReal should be full of pictures of( people) walking, doing homework and sitting in bed watching Netflix.

Lee Zeldin :

My 16-year-old daughters, Mikayla and Arianna, were at our house doing homework , while my wife, Diana, and I were in the car, having just departed the Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

• ^  Princeton's WordNet http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=homework
• ^  GCIDE https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=homework
• ^  Wiktionary https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Homework
• ^  Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homework
• ^  ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com
• ^  Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=homework

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• homeware catalogue
• homewellness
• homework problem noun
• homeworking
• homewrecker

Alternative searches for homework :

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Pronunciation (US):    (GB): 

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  Dictionary entry overview: What does homework mean?  

• HOMEWORK (noun)   The noun HOMEWORK has 1 sense:

  Familiarity information: HOMEWORK used as a noun is very rare.

  Dictionary entry details  

• HOMEWORK (noun)

Sense 1

Preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

homework; prep ; preparation

Hypernyms ("homework" is a kind of...):

school assignment ; schoolwork (a school task performed by a student to satisfy the teacher)

Holonyms ("homework" is a part of...):

didactics ; education ; educational activity ; instruction ; pedagogy ; teaching (the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill)

  Context examples  

Flossing once a day is also part of the "regular homework " for keeping gums healthy.

(New Link Found between Alzheimer's &amp; Gum Disease Bacteria, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Alternatively, you might want to buy new furniture or choose a contractor among the names your friends have offered you. (Be sure to do your homework —contractors can be wonderful or troublesome—check references.) This is an ideal day to move ahead on any home or family matter—it is a day that sparkles brightly for you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

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Unraveling ‘Krowemoh’: Its Meaning and Digital Impact

Ever been intrigued by an unusual term that suddenly becomes a sensation on the Internet? Today, we dive into such a phenomenon, the term “Krowemoh”. Many of us have encountered this word in memes, YouTube videos, TikToks, and even as hashtags, but what does it really mean?

Understanding “Krowemoh”

The term “Krowemoh” is actually “homework” spelled backward. As simple as it may seem, it carries more than just a play on letters; it encapsulates a sense of humor, a spirit of rebellion, and a touch of creativity that is reflective of today’s digital culture.

“Krowemoh” in Digital Pop Culture

Now, let’s talk about how “Krowemoh” has invaded our everyday Internet lingo. From memes to YouTube videos, TikToks to hashtags, “Krowemoh” is everywhere.

In the world of memes, “Krowemoh” has found its place. It represents the sentiment many students feel towards homework, adding a touch of humor to the otherwise mundane. It’s often used in comic settings where characters are avoiding their homework or when homework is presented as a dreaded antagonist. You might have seen popular memes like “The Krowemoh Monster” or “Avoiding the Krowemoh” making rounds on social media.

But the phenomenon didn’t stop there. It found its way onto YouTube, where content creators use “Krowemoh” in their videos, either as part of their comedic sketches or as a way to title their vlogs on study days. In fact, typing “Krowemoh” in the YouTube search bar yields thousands of results, demonstrating its widespread usage.

Moreover, on TikTok, the term has sparked a variety of trends, often linked with fun dances or skits about avoiding homework. The hashtag #Krowemoh has millions of views, making it a trendsetter on the platform.

The Impact of “Krowemoh”

With its rise in digital culture, “Krowemoh” has become more than a word; it’s a shared experience and a testament to the creativity that the Internet often fosters. It exemplifies how a simple word can capture a collective sentiment and become a part of everyday lingo. By understanding “Krowemoh”, we learn more about our shared culture and the powerful influence of the digital world.

Closing Thoughts

In a world where new trends emerge every day, “Krowemoh” serves as a reminder of the creative potential the Internet holds. It represents a shared experience, a collective sentiment, and the evolution of language in the digital era. So, the next time you see “Krowemoh” on a meme, in a video, or as a hashtag, remember the impact it holds in our shared digital culture.

Have you come across any “Krowemoh” memes or videos recently? Or perhaps you’ve used the term in your own digital content? Share your experiences with us!

Today, M. S. U. (2021, March 7). Fact check: “Homework” spelled backwards does not translate to “child abuse” in Latin. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/03/03/fact-check-krowemoh-does-not-mean-child-abuse-latin/6902547002/

Mehta, D. (2023). What is the meaning of ‘krowemoh’? Twitter confused by homework spelt backwards. Hashtag Hyena. https://hashtaghyena.com/twitter/what-is-the-meaning-of-krowemoh-twitter-confused-by-homework-spelled-backwards/

#krowemoh | TikTok. (n.d.). TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/tag/krowemoh?lang=en

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Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.

While experts disagree on how common self-talk really is, they wholeheartedly agree that it’s a valuable tool for self-discovery.

While writing this, I caught myself talking to… myself. Between clicks on the keyboard, I realized I was having an internal conversation about an encounter I'd had the night before. Why, out of the blue, would I interrupt the work I was doing to chat with myself about something that seemed so inconsequential?

If you ask that question of experts in self-talk—colloquially, "talking to ourselves" or more formally the "inner monologue"—one clinical response might be that I wasn't avoiding the task at hand. Instead, and much more intriguingly, I was possibly experiencing a close encounter with the real "me" through a deeply personal internal dialogue.

Russell Hurlburt, psychologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, would say that the words I used in my inner conversation might've represented a “pristine inner experience" which would take me, in that instant, to the "footlights of [my own] consciousness." I was setting the stage for self-discovery, if this had been a professional appointment.

( What is ASMR—and why do only some people feel it? )

"I think people are totally interesting. And I think people find themselves totally interesting," says Hurlburt, who describes himself as "a researcher of inner experience."

"‘A penny for your thoughts?’ is probably the most interesting question in the world," he says.

For behavioralists, inner conversations can reveal repressed emotions, good or self-deprecating, that were stirred by a phone call or triggered by an event or encounter. Like the self-admonishing, "Oh, I sounded so stupid!" Or the self-affirming, "I always feel valued when she and I work together."

It's no surprise that self-talk generates “out loud” talk on social media platforms, where people have been having their own conversations about inner monologues, wondering what exactly they are and if everyone has one.

We asked the experts about this curious natural phenomenon and why you may or may not participate in this most intimate of conversations. While our experts disagree on the frequency of self-talk, they wholeheartedly agree that the inner dialogue is a valuable tool for self-discovery.

Who talks to themselves?

There is nothing new about talking to ourselves. Hamlet did it seven times, as soliloquies, in a play written four centuries ago. Talking to ourselves is joke-worthy, but socially taboo if we're caught talking out loud.

It wasn't until the 1970s that psychologists began to seriously embrace self-talk as a field of study, inspired by the work of psychiatrist Aaron Beck, the father of CBT.

Decades later, in 2009, psychologist Thomas Brinthaupt published one of the handful of analytical tools in use today for measuring self-talk in patients. Called the Self-Talk Scale (STS), it is a 22-item questionnaire aimed at identifying the frequency of self-talk and reflecting four categories of inner chatter: social assessment, self-criticism, self-reinforcement, and self-management.

STS has been used by "tens of thousands" of people in studies worldwide, says Brinthaupt, now a self-described "personality psychologist" at Middle Tennessee State University who works with CBT researchers on finding the deeper meaning to one's mental health as revealed by their inner voice. His questionnaire offers a means for gaining data and underwriting the credibility of research on a topic as ephemeral as thought.

( 9 simple ways to boost your mental health, according to science .)

He has found that in general, children talk to themselves as part of the learning process. Introverts are more likely to be self-talkers. "Only children" (those without siblings) talk to themselves more often and into adulthood. Children with "invisible" friends also are more likely to self-talk.

And people who are suddenly alone or lonely are more apt to self-talk. Although yet to be studied, Brinthaupt surmises that people began talking to themselves more—and more often out loud—during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) talk to themselves in ways that mirror the condition—over and over, repeatedly. The deaf or hard of hearing who use American Sign Language have been reported using their hands to self-talk, says Brinthaupt.

It's also been determined, but not yet studied further, that people who suffer brain damage or a stroke and have difficulty speaking "report that they have lost the sense of self-talk."

So does everyone really have an inner monologue?

But experts are divided over whether the experience is limited to people in these categories—or universal.

Brinthaupt argues that self-talk is a ubiquitous activity available to us all. "We talk to ourselves in response to specific events and stimuli in the social environment or imagined events," he says, adding that some people "don't know they have the ability."

Hurlburt takes the opposing view. In 2020, blogger Ryan Langdon wrote a piece in reply to a tweet by Hurlburt on his research. Langdon titled it " Today I Learned That Not Everyone Has an Internal Monologue and It Has Ruined My Day ." It generated more than a million responses within a month, says Hurlburt, who later met and interviewed Langdon .

( Does AI creep you out? You're experiencing the "uncanny valley." )

"People believe   that they talk to themselves," says Hurlburt, and "some people do sometimes talk to themselves. But of all the samples that I've collected over 50 years of sampling, maybe something like a quarter of them involve words or talking."

Rather than words, some people "see" themselves. One of Hurlburt's most memorable patients, whom he calls Fran, didn't self-talk. She used inner-imagery to visualize what turned out to be an emotionally devastating dialogue—caught in time. Now recovered, she was replaying an inner moving picture of her own suicide, step-by-detailed-step.

The benefits—and downsides—of self-talk

Brinthaupt's categories of inner chatter reflect primary inner concerns. For example, "social assessment" self-talk ("I really shouldn't have interrupted like I did") might seem self-critical but it can also help improve social interactions. Public speakers often self-talk for "self-reinforcement" and "self-management" before hitting the mic.

An inner monologue can also be a tool: Psychologists who practice popular cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) use self-talk as a treatment to reverse negative thinking that arises from conditions like depression. To CBT practitioners, depression is reinforced with self-talk that is critical and negative—but can be weakened when we give ourselves positive and supportive messages.

Hurlburt is not so much interested in self-talk as a behavioral tool but as a direct link to the inner self, a journey of discovery that he's been on since 1971. Using a sampling method and a wearable beeper that he designed and patented, Hurlburt instructs his clients to jot down what they were thinking the moment beeper goes off, hopefully to capture a pure thought.

To Hurlbert, standard surveys and questionnaires are subjective and pollute what should be an unadulterated personal response.

"If you really want to know about what's going on within you," he says, "you have to have a method that allows access to your inner experience without disturbing it."

But if you don’t think you have an inner monologue, Hurlbert says, there’s no reason for concern. "They are not part of being human,” he says. “Some people don't process life in words and sentences."

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• MENTAL HEALTH
• SOCIAL MEDIA

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Meaning of do your homework in English

Do your homework.

• batten down the hatches idiom
• break someone in
• bug-out bag
• build (someone/something) up
• get/have your ducks in a row idiom
• gird your self idiom
• roll up your sleeves idiom
• set something up
• set the scene/stage idiom

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the fact that people or animals do what they are told to do

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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What is a fortnight? Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' vocabulary explained

Taylor Swift released “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday , introducing a new era of artistry for the global superstar. You might need a thesaurus on standby while listening.

Her long-anticipated eleventh album, excluding her “Taylor’s Version” re-recordings, is her most recent release since Midnights, which came out in Oct. 2022.

Swift is infamous for dropping “Easter eggs,” or clues that tell a larger story about her or an album’s concept. This record is no exception.

The album features Swift’s classic poppy and lyrical style, but introduces a host of new vocabulary words, urging listeners to sprint to Google to decode the songs’ meanings.

Music: Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets' is hauntingly brilliant, even the 15 surprise songs

What is a fortnight?

The intro track on “The Tortured Poets Department” is titled “Fortnight” and features rapper Post Malone.

Swift sings, “And for a fortnight, there we were, forever running.” A fortnight refers to a period of two weeks. The term’s usage peaked in the 1860s.

When will the “Fortnight” music video be released?

Swift announced “Fortnight” will get a music video in an Instagram post on Friday. The video will be available at 5 p.m. Arizona time on Friday.

Watch CBS News

FTC bans noncompete agreements, making it easier for workers to quit. Here's what to know.

By Kate Gibson

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 24, 2024 / 9:38 AM EDT / CBS News

Federal regulators on Tuesday enacted a nationwide ban on new noncompete agreements, which keep millions of Americans — from minimum-wage earners to CEOs — from switching jobs within their industries.

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday afternoon voted 3-to-2 to approve the new rule , which will ban noncompetes for all workers when the regulations take effect in 120 days. For senior executives, existing noncompetes can remain in force. For all other employees, existing noncompetes are not enforceable.

The antitrust and consumer protection agency heard from thousands of people who said they had been harmed by noncompetes, illustrating how the agreements are "robbing people of their economic liberty," FTC Chair Lina Khan said. 

The FTC commissioners voted along party lines, with its two Republicans arguing the agency lacked the jurisdiction to enact the rule and that such moves should be made in Congress. 

Within hours of the vote, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it would sue to block "this unnecessary and unlawful rule and put other agencies on notice that such overreach will not go unchecked." The new rule would "undermine American businesses' ability to remain competitive," the trade group, which advocates for U.S. corporations and businesses, said in a statement.

Why it matters

The new rule could impact tens of millions of workers, said Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist and president of the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. 

"For nonunion workers, the only leverage they have is their ability to quit their job," Shierholz told CBS MoneyWatch. "Noncompetes don't just stop you from taking a job — they stop you from starting your own business."

Since  proposing the new rule , the FTC has received more than 26,000 public comments on the regulations. The final rule adopted "would generally prevent most employers from using noncompete clauses," the FTC said in a statement.

The agency's action comes more than two years after President Biden directed the agency to "curtail the unfair use" of noncompetes, under which employees effectively sign away future work opportunities in their industry as a condition of keeping their current job. The president's executive order urged the FTC to target such labor restrictions and others that improperly constrain employees from seeking work.

"The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and to a competitive, thriving economy," Khan said in a statement making the case for axing noncompetes. "Noncompetes block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand."

A threat to trade secrets?

An estimated 30 million people  — or one in five U.S. workers — are bound by noncompete restrictions, according to the FTC.  The new rule could boost worker wages by a total of nearly $300 billion a year, according to the agency.

Employers who use noncompetes argue that they are needed to protect trade secrets or other confidential information employees might learn in the course of their jobs. 

"It'll represent a sea change," said Amanda Sonneborn, a partner at King & Spalding in Chicago who represents employers that use noncompetes. "They don't want somebody to go to a competitor and take their customer list or take their information about their business strategy to that competitor."

Yet corporations concerned about protecting their intellectual assets can use restraints such as confidentiality agreements and trade secret laws, and don't need to resort to noncompete agreements, the FTC staff determined. 

The commission's final rule does not nullify existing noncompetes with senior executives, who are defined as those earning more than $151,164 a year and who hold a policy-making position. Those execs are much more likely to negotiate the terms of their compensation, according to regulators.  

Still, the FTC is banning new noncompetes for senior executives on the grounds that the agreements stifle competition and discourage employees from creating new businesses, potentially harming consumers.

The idea of using noncompetes to keep business information out of the hands of rivals has proliferated, noted Shierholz, citing a notorious case  involving Jimmy John's eateries .

Low-paid workers are now the hardest hit by restrictive work agreements, which can forbid employees including janitors,  security guards  and  phlebotomists  from leaving their job for better pay even though these entry-level workers are least likely to have access to trade secrets.

Real-life consequences

In laying out its rationale for banishing noncompetes from the labor landscape, the FTC offered real-life examples of how the agreements can hurt workers.

In one case, a single father earned about $11 an hour as a security guard for a Florida firm, but resigned a few weeks after taking the job when his child care fell through. Months later, he took a job as a security guard at a bank, making nearly $15 an hour. But the bank terminated his employment after receiving a letter from the man's prior employer stating he had signed a two-year noncompete.

In another example, a factory manager at a textile company saw his paycheck dry up after the 2008 financial crisis. A rival textile company offered him a better job and a big raise, but his noncompete blocked him from taking it, according to the FTC. A subsequent legal battle took three years, wiping out his savings. 

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York.

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What does the slang word 'mid' really mean?

April 17, 2024

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What does the slang word 'mid' really mean?

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