multitasking

M3U1L1T1I1T1A1S1K5I1N1G2

noun

The simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (programs) under the control of an interrupt-driven operating system.

Opposite
monotaskingsingle-taskingunitasking
Less commonScrabble 19
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Meanings

verb

alternative multi-tasking

  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of multitask
nounmultitasking (uncountable)

alternative multi-tasking

  1. uncountablecomputingThe simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (programs) under the control of an interrupt-driven operating system.
  2. figurativelyuncountableThe practice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
monotaskingsingle-taskingunitasking
Also see
polychronic

Origin

See multitask.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan multitasca, multitasca
  • multitascasimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • multitascapractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
Chinese Mandarin 多任務 /多任务, 多工作業 /多工作业
  • 多任務 /多任务 (duōrènwù)simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • 多工作業 /多工作业 (duōgōngzuòyè)simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • 多任務 /多任务 (duōrènwù)practice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • 多工作業 /多工作业 (duōgōngzuòyè)practice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
Estonian multitegumtöö, mitmiktegumtöö
  • multitegumtöösimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • mitmiktegumtöösimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • rööprähkleminepractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • rööprähkluspractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • mitleminepractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • mitluspractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
Finnish moniajo, monisuorittaminen
  • moniajosimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • monisuorittaminenpractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • multitaskingpractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • multitaskauspractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
French multitâche
  • multitâchesimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
German Multitasking
  • Multitaskingsimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
Hungarian többfeladatosság
  • többfeladatosságsimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
Japanese マルチタスク
  • マルチタスク (maruchitasuku)simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
Portuguese multitarefa
  • multitarefasimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
Russian многозада́чность, многозада́чность
  • многозада́чность (mnogozadáčnostʹ)simultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • многозада́чность (mnogozadáčnostʹ)practice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
  • многопро́фильность (mnogoprófilʹnostʹ)practice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
Spanish multitarea, multitarea
  • multitareasimultaneous execution of multiple tasks (computing)
  • multitareapractice or capability of handling more than one task at the same time (figuratively)
Cite this entry
APA

multitasking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitasking

MLA

“multitasking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitasking. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “multitasking,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitasking.

Source: multitasking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.