work
noun
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Trivia Time
In physics, what unit measures work?
work
1 American
[wurk]
/ wɜrk /
noun
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works
plural
-
exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil.
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productive or operative activity.
- Synonyms:
- business, occupation, industry
-
employment, as in some form of industry, especially as a means of earning one's livelihood.
to look for work.
- Synonyms:
- profession, vocation, calling, trade, job
-
one's place of employment.
Don't phone him at work.
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something on which exertion or labor is expended; a task or undertaking.
The students finished their work in class.
- Synonyms:
- responsibility, job, assignment, enterprise
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materials, things, etc., on which one is working or is to work.
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the result of exertion, labor, or activity; a deed or performance.
- Synonyms:
- feat, achievement, product
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a product of exertion, labor, or activity.
musical works.
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Often works. an engineering structure, as a building or bridge.
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a building, wall, trench, or the like, constructed or made as a means of fortification.
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works,
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(used with a singular or plural verb) a place or establishment for manufacturing (often used in combination).
ironworks.
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the working parts of a machine.
the works of a watch.
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Theology. righteous deeds.
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Physics. force times the distance through which it acts; specifically, the transference of energy equal to the product of the component of a force that acts in the direction of the motion of the point of application of the force and the distance through which the point of application moves.
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Informal. the works,
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everything; all related items or matters.
a hamburger with the works.
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harsh or cruel treatment.
to give someone the works.
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adjective
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of, for, or concerning work.
work clothes.
verb (used without object)
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works,
present (3rd person singular)
-
worked,
past participle, past
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wrought,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
working
present participle
-
to do work; labor.
-
to be employed, especially as a means of earning one's livelihood.
He hasn't worked for six weeks.
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to be in operation, as a machine.
The water should not be disconnected while the pump is working.
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to act or operate effectively.
We all agree that this plan works.
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to attain a specified condition, as by repeated movement.
The nails worked loose.
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to have an effect or influence, as on a person or on the mind or feelings of a person.
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to move in agitation, as the features under strong emotion.
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to make way with effort or under stress.
The ship works to windward.
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Nautical. to give slightly at the joints, as a vessel under strain at sea.
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Machinery. to move improperly, as from defective fitting of parts or from wear.
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to undergo treatment by labor in a given way.
This dough works slowly.
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to ferment, as a liquid.
verb (used with object)
-
works,
present (3rd person singular)
-
worked,
past participle, past
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wrought,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
working
present participle
-
to use or manage (an apparatus, contrivance, etc.).
It is easy to work the camera in this mobile device.
She can work many power tools.
- Synonyms:
- handle, manipulate, operate
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to bring about (any result) by or as by work or effort.
to work a change.
- Synonyms:
- achieve, produce, effect, accomplish
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to manipulate or treat by labor.
to work butter.
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to put into effective operation.
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to operate (a mine, farm, etc.) for productive purposes.
to work a coal mine.
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to carry on operations in (a district or region).
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to make, fashion, or execute by work.
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to achieve or win by work or effort.
to work one's passage.
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to keep (a person, a horse, etc.) at work.
She works her employees hard.
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to cause a strong emotion in.
to work a crowd into a frenzy.
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to influence or persuade, especially insidiously.
to work other people to one's will.
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Informal. to exploit (someone or something) to one's advantage.
See if you can work your uncle for a new car. He worked his charm in landing a new job.
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to make or decorate by needlework or embroidery.
She worked a needlepoint cushion.
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to cause fermentation in.
verb phrase
-
work on / upon to exercise influence on; persuade; affect.
I'll work on her, and maybe she'll change her mind.
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work up
-
to move or stir the feelings; excite.
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to prepare; elaborate.
Work up some plans.
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to increase in efficiency or skill.
He worked up his typing speed to 70 words a minute.
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work up to rise to a higher position; advance.
He worked up to the presidency.
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work out
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to bring about by work, effort, or action.
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to solve, as a problem.
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to arrive at by or as by calculation.
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to pay (a debt) by working instead of paying money.
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to exhaust, as a mine.
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to issue in a result.
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to evolve; elaborate.
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to amount to (a total or specified figure); add up (to).
The total works out to 176.
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to prove effective or successful.
Their marriage just didn't work out.
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to practice, exercise, or train, especially in order to become proficient in an athletic sport.
The boxers are working out at the gym tonight.
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work over
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to study or examine thoroughly.
For my term paper I worked over 30 volumes of Roman history.
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Informal. to beat unsparingly, especially in order to obtain something or out of revenge.
They threatened to work him over until he talked.
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work in / into
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to bring or put in; add, merge, or blend.
The tailor worked in the patch skillfully. Work the cream into the hands until it is completely absorbed.
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to arrange a time or employment for.
The dentist was very busy, but said she would be able to work me in late in the afternoon. They worked him into the new operation.
-
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work off
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to lose or dispose of, as by exercise or labor.
We decided to work off the effects of a heavy supper by walking for an hour.
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to pay or fulfill by working.
He worked off his debt by doing odd jobs.
-
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work through to deal with successfully; come to terms with.
to work through one's feelings of guilt.
idioms
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shoot the works, to spend all one's resources.
Let's shoot the works and order the crêpes suzette.
-
out of work, unemployed; jobless.
Many people in the area were out of work.
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make short work of, to finish or dispose of quickly.
We made short work of the chocolate layer cake.
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at work,
-
working, as at one's job.
He's at work on a new novel.
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in action or operation.
to see the machines at work.
-
-
work it,
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to arrange something.
I'll try to work it so that we can all travel together.
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to show off one’s body or clothing to best effect, often through movement or posing.
The models were working it on the runway.
Work it on the dance floor, baby!
-
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gum up the works, to spoil something, as through blundering or stupidity.
The surprise party was all arranged, but her little brother gummed up the works and told her.
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in the works, in preparation or being planned.
A musical version of the book is in the works.
Work
2
American
[wurk]
/ wɜrk /
noun
work
British
/ wɜːk /
noun
-
physical or mental effort directed towards doing or making something
-
paid employment at a job or a trade, occupation, or profession
-
a duty, task, or undertaking
-
something done, made, etc, as a result of effort or exertion
a work of art
-
materials or tasks on which to expend effort or exertion
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another word for workmanship
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the place, office, etc, where a person is employed
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any piece of material that is undergoing a manufacturing operation or process; workpiece
-
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decoration or ornamentation, esp of a specified kind
-
( in combination )
wirework
woolwork
-
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an engineering structure such as a bridge, building, etc
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Abbreviation: W. w. physics the transfer of energy expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which its point of application moves in the direction of the force
-
a structure, wall, etc, built or used as part of a fortification system
-
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at one's job or place of employment
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in action; operating
-
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informal to handle or dispose of very quickly
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(modifier) of, relating to, or used for work
work clothes
a work permit
verb
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(intr) to exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something
-
(intr) to be employed
-
(tr) to carry on operations, activity, etc, in (a place or area)
that salesman works the southern region
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(tr) to cause to labour or toil
he works his men hard
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to operate or cause to operate, esp properly or effectively
to work a lathe
that clock doesn't work
-
(tr) to till or cultivate (land)
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to handle or manipulate or be handled or manipulated
to work dough
-
to shape, form, or process or be shaped, formed, or processed
to work copper
-
to reach or cause to reach a specific condition, esp gradually
the rope worked loose
-
(tr) to solve (a mathematical problem)
-
(intr) to move in agitation
his face worked with anger
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to provoke or arouse
to work someone into a frenzy
-
(tr) to effect or accomplish
to work one's revenge
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to make (one's way) with effort
he worked his way through the crowd
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(tr) to make or decorate by hand in embroidery, tapestry, etc
she was working a sampler
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(intr) (of a mechanism) to move in a loose or otherwise imperfect fashion
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(intr) (of liquids) to ferment, as in brewing
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informal (tr) to manipulate or exploit to one's own advantage
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slang (tr) to cheat or swindle
work
Scientific
/ wûrk /
-
The transfer of energy from one object to another, especially in order to make the second object move in a certain direction. Work is equal to the amount of force multiplied by the distance over which it is applied. If a force of 10 newtons, for example, is applied over a distance of 3 meters, the work is equal to 30 newtons per meter, or 30 joules. The unit for measuring work is the same as that for energy in any system of units, since work is simply a transfer of energy.
work
Cultural
work
More Idioms
Usage
What are other ways to say work? The noun work refers to the exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something. When should you use work instead of drudgery, labor, or toil? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
worksimple
-
workssimple
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have workedperfect
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have wroughtperfect
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has workedperfect
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has wroughtperfect
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am workingprogressive
-
are workingprogressive
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is workingprogressive
-
have been workingperfect progressive
-
has been workingperfect progressive
Past
-
workedsimple
-
wroughtsimple
-
had workedperfect
-
had wroughtperfect
-
was workingprogressive
-
were workingprogressive
-
had been workingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of work
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English worke, Old English worc, replacing Middle English werk(e), Old English weorc, cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon werk, Old High German werah, werc ( German Werk ), Old Norse verk, Greek érgon; (verb) Middle English worken, derivative of the noun, replacing Middle English wyrchen, Old English wyrcean; cognate with German wirken, Old Norse verkja, Gothic waurkjan
Explanation
The word work has many shades of meaning, but most involve putting in an effort of some sort. You're not going to become an Olympic ice skater overnight. You'll need to do a serious amount of work to get there. When you say you have to go to work, work is a noun meaning your workplace. The actual tasks you perform at your workplace — what you get paid for — are also called work. Your work might consist of answering the phone or baking bread or doing the accounting. Work can also be a verb describing doing some kind of activity, often one associated with your job. It's a bummer to work on Saturday when you already worked all week.
Vocabulary lists containing work
Word Generation Science - Energy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Fawley relocated to London, after he married his wife Olive, and he continued to work for the telecoms company.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Mr. Bessent has been jumping through hoops with short-term fixes that don’t work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Their work represents the first systematic attempt to connect nearly all plague genomes currently available from the fourteenth to eighteenth centuries with outbreaks described in historical records.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
On Sunday, Araujo will work the final game of his 14th season as the Angels’ public address announcer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
“He liked the work I did on those other two units so much, he wants me to reno the entire fifth floor.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Work by scientists around the world, including the laboratory of Prof. Eli Arama in Weizmann's Molecular Genetics Department, has shown that these enzymes can also participate in biological processes that are essential for life.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Work to install the new signage was expected to begin Sept. 8, but the board agreed to hold off until October after an August hearing in which U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
The BBC has approached the Department for Work and Pensions for comment.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Work at Esperanza took six years to complete and could serve as a model for other school campuses, said Tori Kjer, executive director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Well damn his Eyes, knows he the Work in which I am engaged?
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Through works spanning two centuries and more than 60 tribes and nations, the exhibition shows how these often marginalized groups represented, celebrated and advocated for themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
The Book of Jubilees, one of the important works preserved in the Qumran library, strongly criticizes the prevailing lunar calendar.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
Certain people have their own little fiefdoms or specific knowledge of how government bureaucracy works, which gives them a leg up in internecine battles.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
“It’s fun money,” said Casey who, like Araujo, is a teacher as well as the clock operator at Galaxy games, where she works alongside her husband.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
“I know you would, Zeke. But that’s not how it works, I’m afraid.”
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Responding to Gordon's comments, Skaith said the Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, which has had devolved powers for longer, had worked "really well".
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
HANGZHOU, China—When Wu Songyun, 35, worked in international trade in the Chinese city of Chengdu, she was chronically stressed from long work hours and demands from a tough boss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Which is why I have trouble getting particularly worked up about the expensive-sauce aisle.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
“These kids want to enjoy themselves. They taught me to keep it as fun as possible. We worked on discipline. A kid said, ‘That’s great coach, but I don’t think we’re having fun.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
However, I also knew that pushing her to tell me never worked.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
He largely espouses esoteric prognostications of how 8 billion human deaths could be wrought by hostile machines, and even though many that admit this outcome is unlikely, it takes up a lot of their attention.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
Reeling from these two fat books, I pulled from the shelves Peter Ackroyd’s 1983 novel, “The Last Testament of Oscar Wilde”—densely wrought, impressionistic and all wrapped up in about 180 pages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The real-life drama seems somehow appropriate for the story of a London crime family wrought with family tensions.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
When they start shooting a movie together, they begin to understand their connection to this ancient evil, and their place in a cyclical inferno wrought by absent parents and bad weather.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
They were so wrought and poised upon their huge hinges, posts of steel driven into the living stone, that when unbarred they could be moved with a light thrust of the arms, noiselessly.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
She served in Ohio’s state legislature for nearly a decade and spent the first part of her political career working from a wheelchair after suffering a stroke in 2000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
"We're working on this already, in fact. We think it's feasible, but it requires a very long roadmap," says Huang.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
There’ll be, like, one or two people there, but our team is out there working with them, and they’re usually able to get in the queue and get back indoors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
For comparison, it’s estimated that SpaceX has roughly 11,100 working Starlink satellites, according to data from the astronomer Jonathan McDowell.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 20, 2026
The noise is deafening, with actors, jugglers, and glass blowers working the crowd.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
