works 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of work
1
as in causes
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this new drug can really work wonders

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2
as in solves
to find an answer for through reasoning finally figured out how to work the math problem

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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
as in moves
to set or keep in motion this pump is worked by hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in uses
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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7
as in struggles
to devote serious and sustained effort the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in exploits
to take unfair advantage of a young boy who worked his aunt for all she was worth in toys and candy when she visited once a year

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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

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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 works
Verb
When investigations uncover evidence of criminal activity, DOI routinely works with prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to pursue criminal charges in addition to administrative or civil actions. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 The lightweight linen-blend fabric keeps things airy, while the classic wide-leg silhouette works with everything from flip-flops during the day to strappy sandals at night. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026 As a psychologist who works for a nonprofit providing services, including ABA, to children with autism and other developmental disabilities, these news articles are sobering. — Doreen Samelson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Anderson has since remarried and currently works as chief of staff for corporate development at payment technology company Celero Commerce. — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The land transfer cleared its last regulatory hurdle June 26 with the approval by the California Transportation Commission, said Neil Thapar, an attorney who works as an advisor and legal consultant to Kai Poma. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Bruce Fedman of Jasper and James Luxury Gifts, who works with many of Hollywood’s top studios and executives, says that is exactly the point. — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 Dance, grief and memory carry the story forward as Mohini works toward rediscovering her artistic identity. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026 KrebsOnSecurity reports that Popa works less like a traditional botnet built for quick attacks and more like a persistent tunneling system. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
The global sports market is forecast to be worth more than $600bn by 2030, according to consultancy Kearney, and IBM is far from the only technology company using sport to prove its AI works before selling it elsewhere. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 9 July 2026 There is no doubt that a series of sketches by Lagerfeld, with his incredibly detailed comments, down to the stitches and the buttons to be employed, are definitely art works. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 9 July 2026 The gallery announced exhibitions of new and historical works by Condo at its Paris and Palo Alto galleries in 2027. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026 The way Florida law and police policy works, that’s tantamount to shooting at an officer. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 Overall, the lineup will showcase 233 works, split between 51 features 81 shorts and 1 series. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Henrietta also had a particular fondness for befriending young women, and disseminating scientific works and sharing knowledge with them. — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026 So, the fields used for the World Cup wouldn’t be the best fit, but turf experts point to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium as an example of where sod-on-plastic works. — A.j. Perez, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Here is what to know about how auto loan refinancing works and how to determine whether the payoff is actually there. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works
  1. causes
  2. solves
  3. serves
  4. operates
  5. moves
  6. uses
  7. struggles
  8. exploits
Verb
  • In May, authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda declared outbreaks after lab tests detected the spread of Bundibugyo virus, which causes a type of Ebola disease.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Definition of causes
Verb
  • None of this solves the hardest part, which is that past a certain point, more context makes the answer worse.
    — Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Placing a catch plate under the feeder and emptying it regularly solves that problem.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
Definition of solves
Verb
  • San Francisco serves as a prime example of how the roaring AI industry is helping drive economic growth more broadly, but masking the economic inequality of lower-and-middle-income families.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • The largely unfamiliar cast lend an air of unpredictability that serves the central mystery well, while the city itself — the bulk of the events take place in the brutalist confines of the Barbican Estate — plays an admirable supporting role.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of serves
Verb
  • The company operates another rideshare series as well, called Bandwagon, which has launched four missions to date.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 July 2026
  • Trent operates fast fashion stores primarily in India under the brands Westside and Zudio.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of operates
Verb
  • The moody Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership as the Sun energizes your 11th House of Friends and Community, aligning cooperation with a larger purpose.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • Trainer Robert Ndungu moves between them, occasionally kneeling to demonstrate the correct technique.
    — Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026
Definition of moves
Verb
  • To manage operational heat, the hardware uses a thermal strategy that entirely removes mechanical components like fans or liquid pumps.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
  • Now, New Zealand space startup Zenno Astronautics says it’s tested an entirely new type of thruster that, unlike either of those conventional technologies, uses superconducting magnets to maintain a satellite’s orbit and orientation.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • Charles builds their cabin with help from a kind widower and Civil War veteran, John Edwards (Warren Christie), who struggles with alcohol; Edwards’ sometime companion (Rebecca Amzallag) is a fiercely independent bar owner.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
  • Her performance as Jovie, the department store employee who struggles to get into the Yuletide frame of mind, was her big break.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026
Definition of struggles
Verb
  • This configuration exploits the boundary layer of air flowing over the airframe to increase efficiency.
    — David Szondy June 14, New Atlas, 14 June 2026
  • The hackers used a common tactic known as credential stuffing to access the data, which exploits weak and reused passwords.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Definition of exploits

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works
works (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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