work
noun
Trivia Time
In physics, what unit measures work?
work
1 American
[wurk]
/ wɜrk /
noun
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works
plural
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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)
-
works,
present (3rd person singular)
-
worked,
past participle, past
-
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
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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.
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-
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
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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
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(intr) to be employed
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(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
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(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
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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
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
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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:
That is especially true, added Parks, if Apple’s hub and its companion LG devices just work easily.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The communication between Ohtani and the team on injuries has been a work in progress in his third year with the Dodgers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
The next morning the app allowed me to unlock an adapter on the charger so the Tesla station would work with my Kia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
"I'm short of breath and have a headache breathing air now. But I still have to work," Imrayedi, a 63-year-old motorcycle taxi driver in Pekanbaru city, on Sumatra island, told BBC Indonesian last week.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
I’d put in eight hours at work, part of Sandy June’s early-morning prep crew before we opened at eleven.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The Department for Work and Pensions assesses a claimant’s form, followed by an interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Work published in Machine Learning with Applications in September 2026 explored another possibility: using artificial intelligence to estimate knee loading from acceleration measurements collected at the foot.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
Work was ongoing to fix a fault with the 25,000-volt wires which power trains near Penkridge, causing disruption between Stafford and Wolverhampton.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Wells story, “The Man Who Could Work Miracles,” about an ordinary guy bestowed with world-altering powers by the gods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Work is so slow that I’ve damn near wiped the enamel off.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
The project, which started in 2025, works with conservation partners and volunteer groups across Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and southern Scotland to raise awareness of the endangered species.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
"I'm here to tell you that's not how this works."
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The standout works of the company’s current season are not its newest creations but the often surprising ones pulled from its past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Spanning five decades, the Palm Springs exhibition presents Albuquerque’s multimedia practice through paintings, sculpture, installations and films, including contemporary iterations of earlier works.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Diaz and a person named Jared H., who Eddie says works at the Seaside Bean Café, the coffee shop I pass every day on my way to school.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
“We certainly had a lot of communication with him throughout the year, and worked together really well in terms of how to go about this,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in late September.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
A Saudi national who worked as an engineer at OpenAI has been arrested and charged with hiding an encrypted recording device at a company office in San Francisco.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
After Wiegman's formation experiment worked so well this week, could it be an option for the future that brings out the best in Stanway, as well as others?
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
A LinkedIn account matching Alfozan's name and resume show that he previously worked at Facebook-owner Meta, as well as an AI startup and a venture capital firm.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
I remembered how he’d let me sit behind the counter as he spoke with customers at the shops where he worked in San Francisco.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
“Kevin Sun I.” captures the flow of his band in performance yet achieves its most memorable aspects through carefully wrought post-production.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Alice’s humanity is defined by her total rejection of the manufactured digital world and the havoc its creators wrought.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
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
Who knows what deliverables he promised, but all he wrought was more frustration and misery for the team’s long-suffering, loyal fans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
“Please, hon, don’t let yourself get all wrought up.”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
During World War II, while working for the government, he had used multiple regression analysis—a means of statistical prediction—to try to devise two stronger alloys for use in military airplanes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Last year the Ministry of Justice said there were significant challenges affecting post-mortem pathology services and that it was working urgently to find a long-term solution to improve the service.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Felipe taught himself how to program as a teenager and is developing his own game, although he acknowledges that working in Cuba throws up constant obstacles.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Caruso said he brought up the Bay Theater over lunch last year with David Ellison, chief executive of Skydance, who was then working to acquire Paramount.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
He was limited in ways that are important to all human beings, but he found a way to live, working with horses.
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.
