work 1 of 4

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as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

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4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

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as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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work

2 of 4

noun (1)

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as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

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as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

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works

3 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of work
1
2
3
as in serves
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

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4
as in operates
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in uses
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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7
8

works

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of work
as in mill
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
Single Arm Dumbbell Row The dumbbell row targets your rear delts and also works your main back muscles. Jakob Roze, Health, 8 Sep. 2025 These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Wohler intercepted Jackson on the All-Pro QB’s final throw in 11-on-11 work. James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2025 Other voiceover works includes stints with Budweiser, Salvation Army, Credit Karma, Herbal Essences, and more. EW.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
If that's not possible, do whatever works for you. Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025 Kovalchuk oversees Russia’s genetic research program where Vorontsova works. Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
The show, though vastly disparate from Gilligan’s previous works, just might feature callbacks to those iconic worlds beyond Seehorn’s casting and the locale. EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Sham will perform works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Busoni, Ravel and Beethoven. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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