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• double-duty
  double-duty

  adjective

  designed to fill two functions.
• double duty
  double duty

  Fulfilling two functions at the same time, as in Our pickup truck does double duty, since it is used for the business and for family outings.

double-duty

American  

[duhb-uhl-doo-tee, -dyoo-] / ˈdʌb əlˈdu ti, -ˈdju- /

adjective

1. designed to fill two functions.

   double-duty tools.

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double duty Idioms  

1. Fulfilling two functions at the same time, as in Our pickup truck does double duty, since it is used for the business and for family outings.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

double-duty double duty

The episode, featuring double-duty guest host and musical guest Olivia Rodrigo, leaned more on character beats than policy specifics, with the cold open focusing on tone and persona rather than headlines.

From Salon ● May 3, 2026

This means vessels are doing double-duty with increasing risk of breakdowns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

They can do double-duty as both home heaters and AC units and are pretty good at maintaining a constant temperature inside a home without the blast-then-cool-off cycle typical of a furnace.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026

McIlroy and Bridgeman finished their rounds on Thursday, while Penge and Aaron Rai had to pull double-duty on Friday.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

In the corridor a few weak-kneed, pasty-faced students were making their way to and from the bathrooms, and a group of silent Helpers worked double-duty to keep the floors mopped.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Most people only have to do this double duty a few times a year, such as when the entire family gathers for holidays.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

And yes, this building also pulls double duty as a thriving pharmacy.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

I wish all airline amenity kits did double duty!

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

There’s no reason carrots, squash, or zucchini can’t pull similar double duty.

From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026

Just like the water that cooled the reactor, the water in the spent fuel pools did double duty.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland