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
Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2026
This race is about who will actually fight for healthcare, public health, and working families.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Connie Ogle
updated February 26, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
And as with most working actors, there were the frequent guest star jobs on episodic television and in TV movies.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for working
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Taking 20 g of creatine daily for five to seven days was associated with improvements in working memory among healthy adults.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2026
This race is about who will actually fight for healthcare, public health, and working families.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The restaurant is connected to the Knotel at Wyncatcher, a members-only co-working destination that opened in December of 2025.
—Connie Ogle
updated February 26, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
And as with most working actors, there were the frequent guest star jobs on episodic television and in TV movies.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for working
Cite this Entry
“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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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