work

1 of 3

verb

ˈwərk 

worked ˈwərkt  or wrought ˈrȯt  ; working

intransitive verb

1

a

: to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary

works in publishing

The job requires that you work some nights and weekends.

She's been working full time at the camp for about a year and a half.

—Holly V. Hays

b

: to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations

worked all day at cleaning the house

worked in the yard

worked hard to improve the school

c

: to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity

… head to the mountains, work a little, play a lot, and hope for snow.

—Stacey Leasca

2

: to function or operate according to plan or design

The hinges work better with oil.

The mechanism was heavy and awkward but it worked.

Your body needs some amount of cholesterol to work well.

—Korin Miller

3

: to produce a desired effect or result : succeed

The medicine seemed to be working.

If even some of his plans work, this might be the most important book of the year.

—Brandon Griggs

If that doesn't work, pull over and take a quick walk alone.

—Nevin Martell

4

: to exert an influence or tendency

5

a

: to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously

worked up to the presidency

b

: to sail to windward

6

a

: to move slightly in relation to another part

b

: to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements

The clog worked out of the pipe.

The knot worked loose.

c

: to be in agitation or restless motion

d

: ferment sense 1

7

: to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being worked

This wood works easily.

transitive verb

1

: to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce

a pump worked by hand

Who is working the machine?

work farmland

2

: to bring to pass : effect

I can't work miracles.

He's a brilliant chef who works magic.

3

: to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation

—often used with out

Their teacher worked out the math problem on the board.

4

a

: to cause to toil or labor

worked their horses nearly to death

b

: to make use of : exploit

worked their charm and looks to get their way

c

: to control or guide the operation of

All of the yard switches are worked from a central tower.

5

a

: to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along

The salesman worked both sides of the street.

a sportscaster hired to work the game

b

: to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose

worked the room

politicians working the crowd

6

: to pay for or achieve with labor or service

worked my way through college

worked my way up in the company

7

a

: to prepare for use by stirring or kneading

worked the putty into the right consistency

b

: to bring into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammering, scraping, pressing, or stretching

work cold steel

8

a

: to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion on : forge, shape

work flint into tools

b

: to make or decorate with needlework

especially : embroider

worked a floral design in wool and silk on the shawl

The buttonholes of the dress were worked in contrasting color.

9

a

: to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages

patiently working the boulder out of the hole

They worked themselves into positions of leadership.

b

: contrive, arrange

We can work it so that you can take your vacation.

10

a

: excite, provoke

worked myself into a rage

b

: to practice trickery or cajolery on for some end

worked the management for a free ticket

work

2 of 3

noun

1

: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:

a

: activity that a person engages in regularly to earn a livelihood

people looking for work

I know them through work.

What line of work is your spouse in?

b

: a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity

A large part of the work is responding to e-mails.

c

: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result

Getting my PhD took a lot of work, but it was worth it.

2

: one's place of employment

I didn't go to work yesterday because I was sick.

3

a

: something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill

This book is the work of many hands.

The cabinets are the work of a skilled carpenter.

Some clever camera work gave the illusion that we were standing next to each other.

b

: something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic production

an early work by a major writer

I love this painter's work.

4

a

: something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising

careful investigative work

b

: something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material

collected fine porcelain work in many styles

5

a

works plural : structures in engineering (such as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (such as shafts or tunnels)

works from the 19th century

b

: a fortified structure (such as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench)

6

works plural in form but singular or plural in construction : a place where industrial labor is carried on : plant, factory

got a job at a cement/lead works

The local steel works have shut down.

7

works plural : the working or moving parts of a mechanism

the works of a clock

8

works plural

a

: everything possessed, available, or belonging

They ordered a pizza with the works.

When we went to New York, we visited the museums, did some shopping, saw some shows—the whole works.

b

: subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse

—usually used with get or give

get the works

gave them the works

9

a

physics : the transference of energy that is produced by the movement of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the magnitude of the force by the amount of displacement of its point of application along the line of movement

b

: energy expended by natural phenomena

c

: the result of such energy

sand dunes are the work of sea and wind

10

a

: effective operation : effect, result

wait for time to do its healing work

b

: manner of working : workmanship, execution

Better tools make for better work.

11

works plural : performance of moral or religious acts

salvation by works

12

: the material or piece of material that is operated upon at any stage in the process of manufacture

The work was put under the drop hammer and quickly pounded into shape for the next operation.

work

3 of 3

adjective

1

: suitable or styled for wear while working

work clothes

The uniform isn't so much suit and tie as it is plaid shirt, work boots, and two-day scruff.

—Laura Regensdorf

2

: used for work

a clean work surface

3

: involving or engaged in work

a work crew

work hours

Phrases

work on

1

: affect

worked on my sympathies

2

: to strive to influence or persuade

work upon

: to have effect upon : operate on

at work

1

: engaged in working : busy

especially : engaged in one's regular occupation

2

: having an effect or influence

… a way of saying that no matter how terrible the world may seem, there is a hidden benign force at work that guarantees the eventual triumph of good …

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

in the works

: in process of preparation, development, or completion

The director's new movie is already in the works.

Plans are in the works for building three new schools in the area.

in work

1

: in process of being done

2

of a horse : in training

out of work

: without regular employment : jobless

The company closed and put 100 people out of work.

Synonyms of work

Verb

• cause
• create
• bring
• do
• generate
• prompt
• produce

Noun

• composition
• piece

Choose the Right Synonym for work

work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion.

work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of work in a Sentence

Verb

I started working when I was sixteen.

She works part-time at the restaurant.

She has always wanted to work in advertising.

She has to work two jobs to support her family.

She worked through lunch to get the report done.

I'm not working tomorrow—the boss gave me the day off.

He works about 60 hours a week.

The job requires that you work some nights and weekends.

She is used to working long hours.

She works the Northeast region of the state selling insurance.

Noun

She is trying to find work in publishing.

How long have you been looking for work?

He started work as a car salesman.

I know him through work.

She didn't come to work today.

He left work a few minutes ago.

She's not here right now. She's at work.

She went out with her friends from work.

Can you describe your work to the class?

A large part of the work is responding to e-mails.

Adjective

What does your work schedule look like this week?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The president worked with Gifford Pinchot—the US Forest Service’s first leader—on a publicity campaign in this realm, and came to appoint a commission in 1903 that held public hearings and investigations the president knew would grab headlines. —JSTOR Daily, 7 Nov. 2025

The science specialist university, together with Jabra, studied how voice technology will impact the future of work, and the scientists predicted that by 2028, voice AI will become the default way of working. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025

Noun

Continuing that legacy of steady and consistent giving also means setting an example for the next generation about hard work, generosity and collaborating with others. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025

LagosPhoto’s debut expansion to Ibadan will foreground works engaging the city’s urban and architectural expressions of incarceration. —Photovogue, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Both are small enough to fit into your daily commuter or overnight bag — ideal for some post-work recovery or mid-flight self-care. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025

Both pieces of research analyzed large datasets of user conversations, examining work and non-work-related conversations. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English werken, worken, from Old English wyrcan; akin to Old English weorc

Noun

Middle English werk, work, from Old English werc, weorc; akin to Old High German werc work, Greek ergon, Avestan varəzem activity

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing work

• all in a day's work
• a nasty piece of work
• a stroke of work
• at work
• blood work
• breath work
• camera work
• detail work
• do/work wonders
• get back to work
• get down to work
• get to work
• go about one's work
• hatchet work
• have one's work cut out for one
• in work
• keep up the good work
• life's work
• line of work
• make short/quick/light work of
• make-work
• many hands make light work
• on work release
• out of work
• piece of work
• pre-work
• put (someone) out of work
• return to work
• right-to-work
• scut work
• set to work
• sex work
• social work
• stump work
• work against (someone)
• work a room
• work-around
• work around to
• work at
• work at/from home
• work camp
• work ethic
• work experience
• work farm
• work flow
• work in
• work in progress
• work in someone's favor
• work into
• work in unison
• work/iron out the kinks
• work it/things
• work like a charm
• work like a Trojan
• work like magic
• work magic
• work miracles
• work of art
• work off
• work oneself into a lather
• work one's fingers to the bone
• work one's magic
• work one's way
• work out
• work outside the home
• work over
• work overtime
• work permit
• work print
• work release
• work round
• work round to
• work-shy
• work site
• work (someone) into the ground
• work song
• work stoppage
• work-study program
• work the land
• work through
• work to
• work-to-rule
• work up
• work up a sweat
• work up to
• yard work
• yeoman's/yeoman work/service

Rhymes for work

• berk
• birk
• cirque
• clerk
• dirk
• erk
• irk
• jerk
• kirk
• lurk
• merc
• merch

Kids Definition

work

1 of 3 noun

ˈwərk 

1

a

: the use of one's strength or ability to get something done or to achieve a result : labor, toil

b

: the work done as one's regular job

also : the place of one's employment

didn't go to work today

c

: something to be done : task

have work to do

2

: the energy used when a force is applied over a given distance

3

a

: something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising

careful police work

b

: something that results from the use or shaping of a particular material

porcelain work

4

: a fortified structure (as a fort or trench)

5

plural : a place where industrial labor is done : plant, factory

cement works

6

plural : the working or moving parts of a mechanical device

the works of a watch

7

: something produced by hard work or skill

a writer's first work

8

: manner of working : workmanship

careless work

9

plural

a

: everything available, possessed, or belonging

a hamburger with the works

b

: the harshest treatment possible

gave him the works

work

2 of 3 adjective

1

: used for work

a work elephant

2

: suitable for wear while working

work clothes

work

3 of 3 verb

worked ˈwərkt  or wrought ˈrȯt  ; working

1

: to bring about : effect

work a cure

2

a

: to prepare by stirring or shaping

work dough

b

: to bring into a desired form by a manufacturing process

work cold steel

3

: to set or keep in motion or operation

a pump worked by hand

4

: to solve by reasoning or figuring

work an arithmetic problem

5

a

: to cause to labor

worked the crew hard

b

: to make use of : exploit

work a mine

6

: to pay for with labor

work off a debt

7

a

: to get into or out of a state or position by stages

worked the boat loose

b

: contrive sense 3, arrange

work it so that you can leave soon

8

: excite sense 1, provoke

worked myself into a rage

9

a

: to make an effort especially for a long period

b

: to perform a task requiring extended effort or repeated operations

c

: to perform work regularly for wages

works in advertising

10

: to function or operate properly

hinges work better with oil

11

: to produce a desired effect : succeed

my plan worked

12

: to move gradually into a certain position or state

the knot worked loose

Etymology

Noun

Old English werc, weorc "work, activity directed toward accomplishing something"

Verb

Old English wyrcan "to create, cause to happen, shape"