duty Definition
- 1a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility
- 2a task or action that someone is required to perform as part of their job
Using duty: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "duty" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
It's your duty to tell the truth.
Example
I have a duty to protect my family.
Example
He was killed while on active duty.
Example
She performed her duties with great care.
duty Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for duty
Antonyms for duty
Idioms Using duty
Example
She did her duty by reporting the incident to the authorities.
Example
He had a strong sense of duty to his family and community.
duty calls
used to indicate that one must attend to a responsibility or obligation, even if it is inconvenient or undesirable
Example
I'd love to stay and chat, but duty calls and I have to go to work.
Phrases with duty
Example
I have to go to court for jury duty next week.
a moral or legal obligation to do something, often used in reference to military service
Example
He felt a strong call of duty to serve his country.
off-duty
not working or on duty
Example
The police officer was off-duty when he witnessed the accident.
Origins of duty
from Old French 'deu', meaning 'due'
Summary: duty in Brief
The term 'duty' [ˈdjuːti] refers to a moral or legal obligation, often associated with responsibilities and tasks. It can be used in various contexts, such as work, military service, or personal relationships, exemplified by 'She performed her duties with great care.' 'Duty' extends into phrases like 'jury duty,' and idioms like 'do one's duty,' denoting fulfilling obligations, and 'duty calls,' indicating attending to responsibilities.