works 1 of 2

Definition of worksnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

works

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 works
Verb
Traffic can make crossing the city slow at times, but the location works well for travelers planning to explore both the pyramids and the central districts. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026 This button-down shirt is well-suited for officewear thanks to its pinstripe design — a polished take on the trend that works with everything from slacks to midi skirts. Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 The center also provides on-site childcare support and works with most major insurance plans — barriers the founders said often prevent mothers from accessing care. Breana Pitts, CBS News, 11 May 2026 District 86 officials recently approved the hiring of Josh McMahon, who currently lives with his family in District 86 and works as assistant superintendent for educational programs at Morton High School District 201 in Berwyn and Cicero. Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026 But this simple password system only works if the person who knows the solution is willing to reveal it. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 11 May 2026 Cariello, who works for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, was part of the outside legal team that defended Cox in its Supreme Court briefs. ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026 They’re baked by one of the player’s mother, Meredith Acierno, who works the concession stand each game. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026 Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2026
Noun
Outside of those major works, most of his on-screen acting happened on television. Jack Dunn, Variety, 10 May 2026 To learn more about which flea and tick treatment works best, consult with your vet. Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 10 May 2026 Six permanent outdoor works are dotted around the property, including a large rocket by Polish artist Goshka Macuga and a shocking pink tree, commissioned specifically for the island, by Pamela Rosenkranz. Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 9 May 2026 Actors perform Shakespeare’s works and other seasonal plays on stage throughout the year. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 Intertwined with a cast of spacey ambient synth works, Yokota and Kondo’s visionary orchestral arrangements culminated in two of the most timeless video-game soundtracks ever made. Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026 Winding throughout is a site-specific art trail created by the Irish collector Paddy McKillen, with architectural works by Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando, as well as Ai Weiwei. Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026 At a time when the images and stories of migrants and migration in the United States portray a crisis, Cadet’s works present a poignant, intimate counterweight. Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026 Spector was most struck by its recurring motif of a burning sun, which appears about seven times in the course of the video’s seven and a half minutes, and which also appears in other Jafa works, like APEX (2013). Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works
Verb
  • In that one, a high-profile divorce case between tech titan Morgan Henderson (West) and international film star Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) causes shockwaves.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
  • In the western hemisphere the hantavirus typically causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a potentially deadly infection.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • This dump-and-bake casserole solves that.
    Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
  • Start with one small project that solves a daily irritation and build momentum from there.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Complementing this portrait, executive producer Katie Lee Biegel serves as culinary consultant and food stylist, working alongside executive producer Ryan Biegel, to help bring the restaurant’s menu and culinary artistry vividly to life.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 13 May 2026
  • In addition to her writing duties, Kazan serves as co-showrunner and executive producer, with Jeb Stuart on as co-showrunner and executive producer as well.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • And Cloudflare said the way the company operates has completely changed, adding that its AI use has increased by more than 600% in the last three months alone.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
  • The machine operates with 200 qubits, and Chinese state media reported that key indicators, including the lifetime and reliability of its qubits, have already reached what researchers described as world-class levels.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Light-diffusing pigments blur the look of dark circles, blemishes, and uneven skin tone with a soft-focus effect, while the proprietary Flex Form Matrix technology creates a breathable layer that moves with the skin throughout the day—without settling into fine lines or creasing.
    Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 10 May 2026
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Under the terms of the compromise, companies could provide rewards when a customer actively uses stablecoin.
    Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
  • This approach usually uses estrogen alone or in combination with progesterone to stabilize hormone levels and reduce symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Green struggles to score 16 points in an empty gym.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
  • The departures of certain Kaiser Permanente offices and a string of prominent restaurant and bar closures have come to symbolize the city’s struggles to retain employers and attract new ones.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • To overcome this, researchers at ETH Zurich used a subtler effect called the geometric phase, which exploits the path taken by atoms through an artificial ‘crystal of light’ built from intersecting laser beams.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
  • Bruce, an airline worker, has hitherto handed off his plus-one flight privileges to Simon, who keenly exploits them to keep filming his globe-trotting doc.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on works

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster