workflow

noun

work·​flow ˈwərk-ˌflō 

variants or less commonly work flow

: the sequence of steps involved in moving from the beginning to the end of a working process

improving office workflow

… this new upgrade isn't revolutionary. But it does a fine job of streamlining workflow and getting the business done.

—Sally Wiener Grotta

The site automates and tracks workflow as well. For example, when a subcontractor fills out a request for information, it goes directly to the general contractor, who signs off on it. The request then travels to the architect, then back to the subcontractor.

—Lawrence Stevens

Examples of workflow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Picture an insurance agency where a claims representative wanders over to her cubicle mate, tells him there’s a new workflow system for online filing, then asks him to tuck her butt back into her skirt. —Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023

Beyond the relatively prosaic impact that distance had on the duo’s workflow, the absence embedded in its yawning tones helps reinforce the impression that this is music of the ether, untethered to anything terrestrial. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2023

However, the content creation workflow within WordPress for these enterprises often presents complexities. —Anil Gupta, Forbes, 17 July 2023

While the primal Moon in your responsible 6th house interacts with logical Mercury in your 12th House of Secrets, do your best to put your workflow into words. —Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023

Others have emphasized changes to the Hollywood workflow, such as automatically visualizing a film script before shooting it or overlaying CGI characters atop a motion-capture performance. —Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2023

Some experts say that rather than killing off jobs, A.I. is more likely to change the workflow. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2023

Addressing today’s post-production needs, Clarity Vx Pro allows for real-time processing and vastly speeds up and enhances the workflow of dialogue editing and mixing. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 Aug. 2023

Party Trick: Pass-Through Windows A bank of wood windows that Mallorie and Jim salvaged from a neighbor’s renovation project sits between the indoor kitchen’s sink and prep space and the outdoor kitchen’s 14-inch-deep counter, creating a seamless workflow between the two spaces. —Anna Logan, Country Living, 11 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above