work

work

verb

Definition of WORK

1

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <this new drug can really work wonders>

Synonyms beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield

Related Words conduce (to), contribute (to); decide, determine; begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start; advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote; enact, render, turn out

Near Antonyms impede, limit, restrict; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress; arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard; can [slang], kill, snuff (out), still; abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

2

to find an answer for through reasoning <finally figured out how to work the math problem>

Synonyms answer, break, crack, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), resolve, riddle (out), unravel, unriddle, work, work out

Related Words conclude, decide, deduce, gather, infer, judge, reason; clear (up), iron out, straighten (out), unscramble, untangle, untie; assume, conjecture, divine, guess, presume, speculate; decipher, decode

3

to have a certain purpose <the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood>

Synonyms act, perform, serve, work

Related Words operate, run; administer, carry on, control, direct, guide, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, supervise

4

to produce a desired effect <this headache remedy takes half an hour to work>

Synonyms operate, perform, take, work

Related Words behave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, result

Near Antonyms backfire; fizzle

5

to set or keep in motion <this pump is worked by hand>

Synonyms actuate, drive, impel, propel, work

Related Words activate, motivate, provoke; abet, ferment, foment, incite, raise, stir (up), whip (up); set off, trigger, trip; arouse, excite, fire (up), galvanize, inflame (also enflame), inspire, instigate, rouse, stimulate

Near Antonyms bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain

6

to control the mechanical operation of <show me how to work the machine>

Synonyms handle, run, work

Related Words use; maneuver, manipulate, ply, wield; command, control, direct, drive, guide, pilot, steer

7

to devote serious and sustained effort <the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues>

Synonyms bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work

Related Words apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in; attack, drive; essay, try; exercise, exert, overexert, overwork; eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch; trudge, wade

Near Antonyms break, ease (up), let up, slacken; bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out; bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind; dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about [British], mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

8

to take unfair advantage of <a woman not afraid to work her sex appeal in order to get ahead>

Synonyms abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work

Related Words jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify