Meaning & use
errand
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A short trip made to do a particular small job, such as buying something or delivering a message.
Grammar: Often used with run, do or go on: run an errand.
Patterns
- run an errand for someone
- go on an errand
- send someone on an errand
I have to run a quick errand before the post office closes.
She sent her son on an errand to the corner shop for milk.
Saturday mornings are usually spent on errands like banking and dry cleaning.
nouncountableold-fashioned
A task that someone carries out on behalf of another person, especially a mission with a specific purpose.
Grammar: Often shown with the purpose it serves: an errand of mercy.
Patterns
- an errand of mercy
- an errand for someone
The nurse travelled through the storm on an errand of mercy.
The messenger arrived on an urgent errand from the governor.
He was sent on a fool's errand and found the office empty.
Word forms
| plural | errands |
|---|
Common combinations
- run an errand
- Could you run an errand for me on your way home?
- run errands
- On her day off she runs errands all over town.
- errand boy
- He began his career as an errand boy at a printing firm.
- fool's errand
- Looking for the missing key at the office turned out to be a fool's errand.
- quick errand
- I only have one quick errand to do downtown.
- errand of mercy
- The volunteers were on an errand of mercy, bringing food to flood victims.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chore
- A chore is a routine household or daily task and need not involve going anywhere, while an errand always means going out to get something done.
- task
- Task is a general word for any piece of work, whereas errand points to a short outing with a practical aim.
- mission
- Mission sounds more serious or important than errand, which usually describes a small everyday job.
Word family
- errand boy noun
- a young person who runs small jobs for others
- errand runner noun
- someone who is paid to do errands
Commonly confused: errand or errant?
errand vs errant
Errant is an adjective meaning wandering or straying from the proper course, and it is unrelated to an errand, though they look alike.
Practice
I need to ___ a few errands this afternoon, including collecting a parcel.
Choose one answer.
Run is the usual verb with errands. 'Make' and 'carry' do not form a natural collocation here, and 'take' would not describe doing the small jobs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “errand”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.