working

1 of 3

noun

work·​ing ˈwər-kiŋ 

1

: the manner of functioning or operating : operation

—usually plural

the inner workings of the government

2

: an excavation or group of excavations made in mining, quarrying, or tunneling

—usually plural

working

2 of 3

adjective

1

: engaged in work especially for wages or a salary

a working journalist

a working mother

2

: adequate to permit work to be done

a working majority

3

: assumed or adopted to permit or facilitate further work or activity

a working draft

4

: spent at work

working life

5

: being in use or operation

a working farm

working

3 of 3

present participle of work entry 1

Synonyms of working

Noun

• mechanics
• ropes

Adjective

• operating
• operational
• operative
• functioning
• running

Examples of working in a Sentence

Noun

an article about the byzantine workings of the auction business for high-end art

Adjective

There is a good working relationship between the departments.

the working parts of the machine

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The chief said the district has struggled to retain firefighters and paramedics, with wages and working conditions contributing to staffing challenges. — Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Because manufacturing in China is so much cheaper than other countries, thanks to their poor working conditions and low wages, companies began outsourcing production to Anta, and companies like it, as globalization ramped up in recent decades. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The loungy lobby doubles as a co-working space, and leads into Bluestone Lane café where guests and locals stop by for breakfast and Australian-style coffee. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

The signatories committed to the pledge as part of their social and ethical responsibility, with an objective to ensure healthy and safe working environments that protect models’ dignity. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing working

• co-working
• in (good) working order
• in (good) working order/condition
• non-working
• the working class
• the working classes
• wonder-working
• working asset
• working/business breakfast
• working/business lunch
• working capital
• working-class
• working day
• working dog
• working fluid
• working girl
• working group
• working memory
• working papers
• working party
• working relationship
• working substance
• working week

Rhymes for working

• clerking
• jerking
• lurking
• shirking
• smirking
• hardworking
• networking
• nonworking
• reworking
• woodworking
• interworking
• metalworking

Kids Definition

working

1 of 2 noun

work·​ing ˈwər-kiŋ 

: the manner of functioning or operating : operation

—usually used in plural

the inner workings of the motion picture industry

working

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: doing work especially for a living

working people

b

: being in an operating state

a working model

2

: good enough to allow work to be done

a working majority

a working arrangement