workflow

noun work·flow \ ˈwərk-ˌflō \

variants: or less commonly work flow

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of workflow

: 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

Recent Examples of workflow from the Web

The city formed the Municipal Operations Department in 2011 after reviewing workflow, costs and staffing during the recession.

— hillary davis, latimes.com, "Newport delays vote on forming a Harbor Department but OKs one for utilities," 23 May 2018
The expediter sets that rhythm, managing the workflow of the kitchen like an air traffic controller.

— tejal rao, New York Times, "The Quarterback of the Kitchen? It’s Not Always the Chef," 17 Apr. 2018
If the device works on humans, the team will need to work closely with burn surgeons to study operating room workflows, to develop a system that meets their needs in terms of size and speed.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "This Handheld Device Could Print New Skin Onto Burn Victims," 30 May 2018
This outpatient operating room in the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center, which opened in April, aims to provide more versatility, reduce infection risks, and improve the surgical team’s views and workflow.

— laura landro, WSJ, "The Operating Room of the Future," 28 May 2018
Opinions are generally split on the benefits of X-Trans; some swear by its effect on color and noise performance, others lament the impact on RAW processing workflows.

— sam byford, The Verge, "Fujifilm announces new X-T100 mirrorless camera for $599," 24 May 2018
Top executives visited the campuses of all those companies for inspiration on a redesign that would suit GM’s new workflows.

— rick tetzeli, Fortune, "GM Gets Ready for a Post-Car Future," 23 May 2018
But making fact-checking a regular part of the publishing workflow, in the same way that copy editing is, would go a long way toward giving readers more reliable books to debate.

— constance grady, Vox, "Chelsea Clinton is disputing the facts in Amy Chozick’s Chasing Hillary," 27 Apr. 2018
The city formed the Municipal Operations Department in 2011 after reviewing workflow, costs and staffing during the recession.

— hillary davis, latimes.com, "Newport proposes new harbor and utilities departments," 15 May 2018

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