Meaning

7 senses
  1. (countable, uncountable)That which one is morally or legally obligated to do.

    Do your duty by me! -No, we don't have a duty to keep you abreast.

    1805, 21 October, Horatio Nelson England expects that every man will do his duty.

    Pflicht

    долгdolg, обя́занностьobjázannostʹ

    боргborh, обо́в'язокobóvʺjazok

  2. (uncountable)The state of being at work and responsible for or doing a particular task.

    I’m on duty from 6 pm to 6 am.

    Schicht, Arbeitszeit

    дежу́рствоdežúrstvo, сме́наsména, слу́жбаslúžba

    вартува́нняvartuvánnja, змі́наzmína, слу́жбаslúžba

  3. (countable)An excise tax; especially, one on imports or exports.

    customs duty

    Zoll, Einfuhrsteuer

    по́шлинаpóšlina, нало́гnalóg, сборsbor

    ми́тоmýto, збірzbir

    a government tax on imports or exports

  4. (countable, uncountable)The efficiency of an engine in work done per unit of fuel; particularly, the number of pounds of water which a steam pumping engine can raise one foot by burning one bushel or hundredweight of coal.

  5. (countable, euphemistic, uncountable)The act of urination or defecation, especially for a dog.

  6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)One's due, something one is owed; a debt or fee.

  7. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage.

Examples

816 sentences
  1. It's my duty to help you.

    Допомогти тобі — мій обов'язок.

    ruМой долг - помогать тебе.

    deEs ist meine Pflicht, dir zu helfen.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  2. I'll be on duty this Sunday.

    Я буду на службі у неділю.

    deDiesen Sonntag habe ich Dienst.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  3. Tom and Mary are on duty.

    Том та Мері на чергуванні.

    ruТом с Мэри дежурят.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  4. It's my duty to do that.

    Зробити це — мій обов'язок.

    ruСделать это - мой долг.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  5. What time are you going on duty?

    О котрій годині ви йдете на службу?

    ruВо сколько часов Вы пойдёте на службу?

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 3
that which one is morally or legally obligated to do:
period of time:
tax; tariff:
Русский
By meaning 3
that which one is morally or legally obligated to do:
period of time:
tax; tariff:
Deutsch
By meaning 3
that which one is morally or legally obligated to do:
period of time:
tax; tariff:

Origin

From Middle English duete, from Middle English dewe + Middle English -te. Equivalent to du

From Middle English duete, from Middle English dewe + Middle English -te. Equivalent to due + -ty.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

plural: duties
Singularduty
Pluralduties

regular

Synonyms

4 synonyms
that which one is obligated to do:obligationB2
Close in meaning

Antonyms

2 antonyms
that which one is obligated to do:rightA2

Word family

50 related words

Collocations

12 patterns
  • is on duty
  • is off duty
  • my duty to
  • off duty today
  • duty tonight
  • on duty tonight
  • our duty to
  • on duty now
  • on duty today
  • on guard duty
  • off duty tonight
  • duty today

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
duty — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto