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
Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
Still, many retirees don't realize that their approach to credit card debt needs to be fundamentally different from borrowers who are still in their working years.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
But in other areas, the party strayed far from a pro-working-class posture.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for working
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Noun
On a chilly Monday afternoon in northwest Charlotte, United Steelworkers union members and Corning employees rallied across the street from the company’s six-story building in support of expanding unionization and better working conditions.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
Still, many retirees don't realize that their approach to credit card debt needs to be fundamentally different from borrowers who are still in their working years.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The Morningside Project serves as a co-working space for meetings or an event space for small workshops.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
But in other areas, the party strayed far from a pro-working-class posture.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for working
Cite this Entry
“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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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