work

verb

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\ ˈwərk

worked\ ˈwərkt

\ or wrought\ ˈrȯt

\; working

Definition of work

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary works in publishing

b : to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations worked all day over a hot stove

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

2 : to function or operate according to plan or design hinges work better with oil

3 : to produce a desired effect or result : succeed a plan that will work

4 : to exert an influence or tendency

5a : to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously worked up to the presidency

b : to sail to windward

6a : to move slightly in relation to another part

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

2 : to bring to pass : effect work miracles

3 : to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation —often used with out

4a : to cause to toil or labor worked their horses nearly to death

b : to make use of : exploit

c : to control or guide the operation of switches are worked from a central tower

5a : to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along the peddler worked the corner 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 politicians working the crowd worked the room

6 : to pay for or achieve with labor or service worked my way through college worked my way up in the company

7a : to prepare for use by stirring or kneading

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

8a : 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

9a : to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages

b : contrive, arrange we can work it so that you can take your vacation

10a : 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 on

1 : affect worked on my sympathies

2 : to strive to influence or persuade

work upon

: to have effect upon : operate on

work

noun

Definition of work (Entry 2 of 3)

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

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

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

2 : one's place of employment didn't go to work today

3a : something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill this book is the work of many hands

b : something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic production an early work by a major writer

4a : something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising careful police work clever camera work

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

5a works plural : structures in engineering (such as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (such as shafts or tunnels)

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

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 the whole works, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard ordered pizza with the works

b : subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse —usually used with get or giveget the worksgave them the works

9a : the transference of energy that is produced by the motion of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of its point of application in the line of action

b : energy expended by natural phenomena

c : the result of such energy sand dunes are the work of sea and wind

10a : effective operation : effect, result wait for time to do its healing work

b : manner of working : workmanship, execution

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

at work

1 : engaged in working : busy especially : engaged in one's regular occupation

2 : having effect : operating, functioning

in the works

: in process of preparation, development, or completion

in work

1 : in process of being done

2 of a horse : in training

out of work

: without regular employment : jobless

work

adjective

Definition of work (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : suitable or styled for wear while working work clothes

2 : used for work a work elephant

3 : involving or engaged in work a work gang work hours

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about work

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Choose the Right Synonym for work

Noun

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 Perhaps websites won’t load because time has moved on, and new software won’t work with the phone anymore. — Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, "Talking Tech meet Mean Tweets: Annual smartphone upgrades a boon for Apple, Google, Samsung, but bad for environment," 26 Oct. 2020 If patching doesn’t work, the only solution will be to find a masonry contractor to chip out the lintel and replace it. — Washington Post, "Cracked concrete lintel is a mystery," 26 Oct. 2020 The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "Fear and anxiety spike in virus hot spots across U.S., including Utah," 25 Oct. 2020 The worker had worked through Thursday at the early voting site, located at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Building, but didn’t work Friday, according to the Division of Elections. — Anchorage Daily News, "Palmer early voting site closed through Sunday after poll worker tests positive for COVID-19," 24 Oct. 2020 Musico said the storming plan wouldn’t work and was never going to happen, Johnson said. — Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer kidnap plot: possible citizen's arrest mentioned in March, prosecutor says," 24 Oct. 2020 Others describe him as an intimidating presence who doesn’t work well with indecisive people and prefers leaders with strong opinions. — Benjamin Mullin, WSJ, "CNN President Jeff Zucker Faces What Might Be His Last Lap," 23 Oct. 2020 First, recognize that what works for you may not work for your spouse or children. — Dr. Adam Perlman, Star Tribune, "How to get a handle on life during the pandemic," 23 Oct. 2020 Acting in one's own way and serving one's own interests will not work. — Steven Jiang And Ben Westcott, CNN, "China's Xi Jinping delivers thinly-veiled swipe at US during Korean War anniversary speech," 23 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Given Netflix's recent success with 2019's The Witcher – which is based on a series of books and videogames – the streaming service has recently had success in making a fantastical game franchise work as a drama series. — James Hibberd, EW.com, "Netflix announces an Assassin's Creed live-action TV drama series," 27 Oct. 2020 One of the more controversial ones is its Gateway to Work program, which includes a measure that some refer to as a work mandate. — Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, "In a first nationwide, feds extend Indiana's Medicaid expansion alternative for 10 years," 27 Oct. 2020 Glascoe has not had full-time work since a 2016 accident left her unable to do her job as a Maryland Transit Administration bus driver. — Washington Post, "Renters thought a CDC order protected them from eviction. Then landlords found loopholes.," 27 Oct. 2020 Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will be given work packets to be completed. — Staff Report, NOLA.com, "Tropical Storm Zeta: Here's a list of schools, agencies closing in the New Orleans area," 27 Oct. 2020 The first revisions were unveiled Monday during an hour-long City Council work session, with plans to have them on the books by the end of November, in time for the annual review by Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Shaker Heights introduces first series of police reforms -- starting with use-of-force policy," 27 Oct. 2020 And he was sworn in last year as an auxiliary deputy with the Broward County Sheriff’s office to help with community work. — Mark Medina, USA TODAY, "Shaquille O’Neal's experience with police shapes his new initiative with Pepsi in NBA cities," 27 Oct. 2020 In July, Borowy-Reeder was fired from the museum after a group of former employees -- including Lynne -- accused her of engaging in racist microaggressions and fostering a toxic work environment. — Ryan Patrick Hooper, Detroit Free Press, "MOCAD makes changes to its executive committee, brings back laid-off curator," 27 Oct. 2020 Last month, an unexpectedly high number of women dropped out of the work force. — Anneken Tappe, CNN, "The US economy probably grew at record speed in the third quarter. But the crisis isn't over," 27 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Their pro-work, pro-family, pro-business, low tax agenda creates jobs and expands opportunity. — CNN, "Opinion: The Republican Party has a tough choice to make," 21 Aug. 2020 Many pushed back against the imperative to be there all the time, nudging resistant bosses and norms in an attempt to make life more flexible and the non-work parts of it—like picking up kids from school—more manageable. — Cassie Werber, Quartz at Work, "Covid-19 upended the office, but it might have created something better," 9 Aug. 2020 Texting topped the list of non-work time wasters on the phone, followed by checking the weather, reading the news, playing games, and shopping. — Amy Capetta, Redbook, "7 Signs You're Addicted to Your Phone," 13 June 2017 The order applies to individuals coming from Wisconsin to Chicago for non-work purposes and Chicago residents returning from Wisconsin, unless they are deemed an essential worker. — Katherine Rosenberg-douglas, chicagotribune.com, "Travelling outside Illinois? Chicago residents must quarantine after visiting 22 states. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a large fine.," 29 July 2020 One of our primary messages right now around burnout is being intentional about the recovery and the rest and the opportunity to turn things off, shift your focus to non-work activities. — Kathryn Vasel, CNN, "Google will give every employee $1,000 to WFH. Its wellness manager explains why," 4 June 2020 Alabama’s current health order prohibits non-work gatherings where people cannot maintain a 6-foot distance between themselves and those from another household. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "George Floyd protests amid coronavirus pandemic: ADPH urges use of facemasks, social distancing," 1 June 2020 Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, said in an email to the Free Press that production and processing of poultry continues and worker safety measures are in place. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Meat shortage could be coming soon as processing plants are forced to close," 14 Apr. 2020 Economist Michael Kremer has suggested that democratic redistribution within cooperatives dulls worker effort, while economist Gabriel Burdin has found evidence that more skilled and ambitious workers tend to quit co-ops. — Noah Smith, Twin Cities, "Noah Smith: There’s no reason workers can’t be corporate owners," 5 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'work.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near work

work against (someone)

Statistics for work

Last Updated

28 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for work

work

verb

English Language Learners Definition of work

(Entry 1 of 3)

: to have a job

: to do things as part of your job

: to do work in, on, or at (an area, event, etc.)

work

noun

English Language Learners Definition of work (Entry 2 of 3)

: a job or activity that you do regularly especially in order to earn money

: the place where you do your job

: the things that you do especially as part of your job

work

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of work (Entry 3 of 3)

: suitable to be worn while you are working

: used for work

: of or relating to a person's job

See the full definition for work in the English Language Learners Dictionary

work

noun

\ ˈwərk

Kids Definition of work

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the use of a person's physical or mental strength or ability in order to get something done or get some desired result Cleaning the playground was a lot of work.

2 : occupation sense 1, employment

3 : the place where someone works I left my coat at work.

4 : something that needs to be done or dealt with : task, job I have work to do.

5 : deed entry 1 sense 1, achievement The principal will honor the club for its good works.

6 : something produced by effort or hard work an author's latest work a researcher's work

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

8 works plural : the working or moving parts of a mechanical device the works of a watch

9 : the way someone performs labor : workmanship The job was spoiled by careless work.

10 works plural : everything possessed, available, or belonging She ordered a hamburger with the works.

work

verb

worked or wrought\ ˈrȯt \; working

Kids Definition of work (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to do something that involves physical or mental effort especially for money or because of a need instead of for pleasure : labor or cause to labor

2 : to have a job I haven't worked in three years.

3 : to perform or act or to cause to act as planned : operate The plan worked well. How do you work this thing?

4 : to force to do something that involves physical or mental effort The coach really works the team.

5 : to move or cause to move slowly or with effort Work the liquid into a cloth. The screw worked loose.

6 : to cause to happen I can't work miracles.

7 : make entry 1 sense 1, shape The vase is beautifully wrought.

8 : to make an effort especially for a long period She worked hard to make the dinner a success.

9 : excite sense 1, provoke You're going to work yourself into a rage.

10 : to carry on an occupation in, through, or along Two agents worked the city.

work out

1 : to invent or solve by effort He had it all worked out so it wouldn't look fishy.— Zilpha Keatley Snyder, The Egypt Game

2 : to go through an exercise routine