1
: the manner of functioning or operating : operation
—usually used in plural
the inner workings of the government
2
: an excavation or group of excavations made in mining, quarrying, or tunneling
—usually used in plural
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
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
Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
Newsweek contacted the companies planning to suspend sponsorship for comment outside of regular working hours.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Aside from being largely out of the public eye, Prince Andrew's status as a non-working royal stripped of his military affiliations was obvious at the funeral for Queen Elizabeth in 2022, when he was not allowed to wear his military uniform to the service.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for working
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Noun
In a field chasing million-qubit dreams, Marchenkova argues that a hundred working qubits — and a solid plan — are what really matter.
—Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
Newsweek contacted the companies planning to suspend sponsorship for comment outside of regular working hours.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
In 2024, 22 percent of respondents to the American Psychological Association's Work in America survey said their employer offered a four-day working week, compared with 14 percent in 2022.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Aside from being largely out of the public eye, Prince Andrew's status as a non-working royal stripped of his military affiliations was obvious at the funeral for Queen Elizabeth in 2022, when he was not allowed to wear his military uniform to the service.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for working
Cite this Entry
“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
working
2 of 2 adjective1
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
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