work a room
idiom
: to talk to the people in a room to get their support, approval, etc.
a politician who really knows how to work a room
Examples of work a room in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Billie Jean King can work a room like few others in women’s sports.
—
Meg Linehan, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Kids make toasts and work a room like a seasoned comedian.
—Bob Eckstein, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024
At 70, the supermodel can still work a room, strike a pose and turn heads.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024
Tensions often ran high between Tung, a gifted but practical and exacting cook, and Kathy, who knew how to work a room and sell a dish but not pay bills on time.
—Sonia Chopra, Bon Appétit, 18 Oct. 2023
Chloe Fineman knows how to work a room.
—Ian Malone, Vogue, 8 Dec. 2022
The gimmick of pairing celebrities like Jordan Peele, Jamie Lee Curtis (who knows how to work a room) and Steve Carell with theater employees, managers and owners was inspired and came off as genuine.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 2 May 2022
Zayn Malik knows how to work a room at a Hadid family gathering.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 14 July 2021
In his biographies of the two, the former journalist David Torrance paints a picture of them as complementary forces: Salmond is theatrical, a natural performer; Sturgeon is on top of the details, a naturally shy person who learned how to work a room.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 5 May 2021
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Meg Linehan, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Kids make toasts and work a room like a seasoned comedian.
—Bob Eckstein, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024
At 70, the supermodel can still work a room, strike a pose and turn heads.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024
Tensions often ran high between Tung, a gifted but practical and exacting cook, and Kathy, who knew how to work a room and sell a dish but not pay bills on time.
—Sonia Chopra, Bon Appétit, 18 Oct. 2023
Chloe Fineman knows how to work a room.
—Ian Malone, Vogue, 8 Dec. 2022
The gimmick of pairing celebrities like Jordan Peele, Jamie Lee Curtis (who knows how to work a room) and Steve Carell with theater employees, managers and owners was inspired and came off as genuine.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 2 May 2022
Zayn Malik knows how to work a room at a Hadid family gathering.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 14 July 2021
In his biographies of the two, the former journalist David Torrance paints a picture of them as complementary forces: Salmond is theatrical, a natural performer; Sturgeon is on top of the details, a naturally shy person who learned how to work a room.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 5 May 2021
Cite this Entry
“Work a room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20a%20room. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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