multitask

American  

[muhl-tee-task, -tahsk, muhl-tahy-] / ˈmʌl tiˌtæsk, -ˌtɑsk, ˈmʌl taɪ- /

verb (used without object)

1. Computers. (of a single CPU) to execute two or more jobs concurrently.

2. (of one person) to perform two or more tasks simultaneously.

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multitask British  

/ ˈmʌltɪˌtɑːsk /

verb

1. to work at several different tasks simultaneously

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Other Word Forms

• multi-tasking noun
• multitasker noun
• multitasking noun

Etymology

Origin of multitask

First recorded in 1960–65; multi- + task

Example Sentences

When cameras are on, participants can’t multitask or pretend to be paying attention when they aren’t.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thornton, also a journalist and broadcaster, talks about her own experience of perimenopause, saying the "worst" thing she experienced was going from being somebody "who can multitask... being very capable" to somebody who felt "entirely incapable".

From BBC

It’s also working on a more powerful pair of AR glasses that lets people take video calls, get recipe recommendations and multitask in other ways.

From Los Angeles Times

There are a multitude of cognitive pluses — early research suggests language learning can help us multitask more efficiently and improve attention span and abstract thinking.

From Salon

“Whereas before it was only about skiing, now an athlete has to multitask and worry about curating their image and marketing themselves. But the days still last 24 hours.”

From Seattle Times