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

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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
Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2026 But the slow realization that Snake Rob was a genuine threat who would ultimately run the game was especially satisfying and a reminder of how well The Traitors works as an all-star showcase and narrative machine, even in its fourth season. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026 Salt works best as a cleaning abrasive when paired with warm water or an acid, like lemon juice or vinegar. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 May 2026 Their Allure Best of Beauty award-winning and best-selling Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask is a 2-in-1 treatment that works as a gentle scrub or leave-on detox mask to deeply cleanse and brighten. ABC News, 4 May 2026 In private briefings, the lawyers are reminding staff members how congressional oversight works and suggesting best practices for handling it. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 4 May 2026 Yes, there is a possibility that this all works somehow. Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 4 May 2026 My top economic priority is building an economy that works for everyone, not just the billionaires and biggest corporations. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Obsessing over work-life balance is a huge red flag, says one Fortune 500 Europe CEO who happily works weekends. Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
The city is home to several in-the-works multi-million dollar developments, and is an attractive place for people looking to move to Parker County for its spacious land and proximity to successful school districts. Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 May 2026 Like Ando’s architecture, Turrell makes the kind of immersive, site-specific art people travel great distances for, and Benesse has commissioned several of the American artist’s works, the rest of which can be found at the Chichu Art Museum. Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026 On the walls hang works by Andy Warhol, reflecting his long-standing passion as an art collector. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026 There’s no scientific data proving this works, and paper decoys like this only provide material for the wasps to use in nest construction. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 May 2026 Auction houses have leaned on lower estimates to get works moving, and the results have been solid. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 2 May 2026 The Gold100 honorees lead companies worth more than $10 trillion, work in governments representing tens of millions of citizens, have creative works that won Oscars and much more. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 May 2026 Those are real-life examples of recent scams plaguing the publishing industry that target authors’ wallets and original works. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 One gallery places Rocky in the global boxing fever of the 1970s, featuring works by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol — all created during a time when boxing had the world's attention. CBS News, 25 Apr. 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
  • They are prepped to run the ball more frequently, or at least run it more effectively, in hopes that this solves the stagnation — rather than personnel shouldering the load.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
  • Money solves many, if not all, ills.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The aesthetic presentation also celebrates nature; a gnarled grape vine serves as a platter to display the amuses-bouches.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
  • Mark Mylod serves as executive producer and directed multiple episodes.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The program, which operates in fifty-five communities around the country, works with tens of thousands of young people.
    Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Farming has always been a challenging endeavor, one that operates at the whim of external forces but with little margin for setbacks.
    The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • The Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership, making interactions more direct and emotionally charged in subtle ways.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • Both days could produce thunderstorms but Thursday has the higher likelihood of storms as the front moves through.
    Rachael Jay, CBS News, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • For Love in the Time of Cholera, 1989, for instance, Pau uses early Picture-in-Picture (PiP) technology to frame clips from Zuni’s 1988 October/Decameron stage performance, which then float, rotate, and cascade across the screen.
    Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Upstairs, in the bubble gum-pink Powder Room, Shahniani keeps his drag costumes, made by his favorite dressmaker, Kelsey Swarthout, who uses upcycled Disney sheets in her designs.
    Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Anticipated state struggles to regulate foreign apps is why a federal ban would be preferable, 19th News reported.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
  • In addition to his family situation as a child, Horner's lawyers have presented evidence about his autism diagnosis, struggles with mental health, lead exposure and issues with his brain development in order to convince the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of death row.
    Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Lockwood exploits that conundrum, and even takes part in it.
    Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • If anything looks off, a professional inspection is a smart investment — far cheaper than an emergency roof repair after a storm exploits an existing weak spot.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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