noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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ěr'-ənd
/ˈɛɹənd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛɹənd
CMU ARPABET:EH1 R AH0 N D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A journey undertaken to accomplish some task.
A mission or quest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, literary
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: run
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A journey undertaken to accomplish some task.
A mundane mission of no great consequence, concerning household or business affairs (dropping items by, doing paperwork, going to a friend's house, etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The errands before he could start the project included getting material at the store and getting the tools he had lent his neighbors.
I'm going to town on some errands.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: run
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The purpose of such a journey.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An oral message trusted to a person for delivery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To send someone on an errand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
All the servants were on holiday or erranded out of the house.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To go on an errand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
She spent an enjoyable afternoon erranding in the city.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: trip
History
Etymology
From Middle English erande, erende, from Old English ǣrende, from Proto-West Germanic *ārundī (“message, errand”).
Across languages
Translations
82 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مشور
(mišwār)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Bashkir:
йомош
(yomoş)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Catalan:
diligència
— trip to accomplish a small task
Catalan:
encàrrec
— trip to accomplish a small task
Chinese Mandarin:
使命
(shǐmìng)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Chinese Mandarin:
任務 /任务
(rènwu)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Chinese Mandarin:
差使
(chāishǐ)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Danish:
ærinde
— trip to accomplish a small task
Dutch:
boodschap
— trip to accomplish a small task
Finnish:
juttu
— trip to accomplish a small task
Finnish:
juokseva asia
— trip to accomplish a small task
Finnish:
tehtävä
— trip to accomplish a small task
French:
course
— trip to accomplish a small task
Galician:
mandado
— trip to accomplish a small task
Galician:
encarga
— trip to accomplish a small task
Galician:
recado
— trip to accomplish a small task
Galician:
encomenda
— trip to accomplish a small task
German:
Besorgung
— trip to accomplish a small task
German:
Auftrag
— trip to accomplish a small task
Hebrew:
שְׁלִיחוּת
(shliẖút)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Hungarian:
út
— trip to accomplish a small task
Hungarian:
megbízatás
— trip to accomplish a small task
Hungarian:
megbízás
— trip to accomplish a small task
Hungarian:
küldetés
— trip to accomplish a small task
Irish:
teachtaireacht
— trip to accomplish a small task
Italian:
commissione
— trip to accomplish a small task
Italian:
ambasciata
— trip to accomplish a small task
Italian:
incombenza
— trip to accomplish a small task
Japanese:
お使い
(o-tsukai)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Japanese:
使命
(shimei)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Jeju:
부름씨
(bureumssi)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Kazakh:
іс сапар
(ıs sapar)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Korean:
심부름
(simbureum)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Middle English:
erende
— trip to accomplish a small task
Portuguese:
encargo
— trip to accomplish a small task
Russian:
поруче́ние
(poručénije)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Russian:
командиро́вка
(komandiróvka)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Russian:
зада́ние
(zadánije)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Spanish:
recado
— trip to accomplish a small task
Spanish:
mandado
— trip to accomplish a small task
Swedish:
ärende
— trip to accomplish a small task
Turkish:
edinme
— trip to accomplish a small task
Turkish:
tedarik
— trip to accomplish a small task
Ukrainian:
побігашка
(pobihaška)
— trip to accomplish a small task
Welsh:
neges
— trip to accomplish a small task
Yoruba:
iṣẹ́
— trip to accomplish a small task
Bashkir:
йомош
(yomoş)
— purpose of a small trip
Catalan:
encàrrec
— purpose of a small trip
Chinese Mandarin:
任務 /任务
(rènwu)
— purpose of a small trip
Danish:
ærinde
— purpose of a small trip
Finnish:
asia
— purpose of a small trip
Finnish:
tehtävä
— purpose of a small trip
German:
Besorgung
— purpose of a small trip
Greek:
θέλημα
(thélima)
— purpose of a small trip
Greek:
μικροδουλειά
(mikrodouleiá)
— purpose of a small trip
Hungarian:
elintéznivaló
— purpose of a small trip
Hungarian:
intéznivaló
— purpose of a small trip
Hungarian:
dolog
— purpose of a small trip
Hungarian:
feladat
— purpose of a small trip
Hungarian:
ügy
— purpose of a small trip
Italian:
incarico
— purpose of a small trip
Kazakh:
тапсырма
(tapsyrma)
— purpose of a small trip
Polish:
sprawa
— purpose of a small trip
Russian:
поруче́ние
(poručénije)
— purpose of a small trip
Russian:
зада́ние
(zadánije)
— purpose of a small trip
