working

American  

[wur-king] / ˈwɜr kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that works.

2. operation; action.

   the involuted workings of his mind.

3. the process of shaping a material.

   The working of clay is easy when it's damp.

4. the act of manufacturing or building a thing.

5. Usually workings. a part of a mine, quarry, or the like, in which work is carried on.

6. the process of fermenting, as of yeasts.

7. a slow advance involving exertion.

8. disturbed or twisting motions.

   The working of his limbs revealed the disease.

9. repeated movement or strain tending to loosen a structural assembly or part.

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adjective

1. that works.

2. doing some form of work or labor, especially manual, mechanical, or industrial work, as for a living.

   a working person.

3. operating; producing effects, results, etc.

4. pertaining to, connected with, or used in operating or working.

5. serving to permit or facilitate continued work.

   a working model; a working majority.

6. adequate for usual or customary needs.

   a working knowledge of Spanish.

   Synonyms:

   operative, practical, usable

7. large enough for working or being worked: worked.

   a working sample.

8. done, taken, etc., while conducting or discussing business.

   a working lunch.

9. Also (of a face or edge, as of a timber or a metal casting) shaped and planed as a reference for further shaping and planing.

working British  

/ ˈwɜːkɪŋ /

noun

1. the operation or mode of operation of something

2. the act or process of moulding something pliable

3. a convulsive or jerking motion, as from excitement

4. (often plural) a part of a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked

5. (plural) the whole system of excavations in a mine

6. a record of the steps by which the result of a calculation or the solution of a problem is obtained

   all working is to be submitted to the examiners

7. rare slow advance against or as if against resistance

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adjective

1. relating to or concerned with a person or thing that works

   a working man

2. concerned with, used in, or suitable for work

   working clothes

3. (of a meal or occasion) during which business discussions are carried on

   working lunch

   working breakfast

4. capable of being operated or used

   a working model

5. sufficiently large or accurate to be useful or to accomplish a desired end

   a working majority

   a working knowledge of German

6. (of a theory, etc) providing a basis, usually a temporary one, on which operations or procedures may be carried out

Other Word Forms

• self-working adjective
• unworking adjective

Etymology

Origin of working

First recorded in 1250–1300, working is from the Middle English word werking. See work, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Swan had been working on the problem for decades, much earlier than Edison, as had other scientists—and they had already created functioning electric lamps, albeit not very effective or reliable ones.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"Moviegoing has momentum right now. The big films are working and audiences like what they're seeing," Gross said.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

"It's a hopeful time to be working on the biology of aging."

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

"Go back to your boxing. Get that jab working," his trainer urged.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Ba had insisted that Ma teach me embroidery, and I was working on a pillow casing, but exquisite wouldn’t be how I described my needlework.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• alive
• busy
• employed
• engaged
• functioning
• running