Showing results for "working"

• present participle of work.

working

American  

[wur-king] / ˈwɜr kɪŋ /

noun

• workings
  plural

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.

   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

Derived Forms

• self-working
  adjective
• unworking
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• workings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of working

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

working workings

"It's unprecedented, but it appears to be working," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Veterinarian Kushal Konwar Sarma showed AFP an elephant hospital with hydraulic operating tables and hydrotherapy pools, where retired working elephants recover from injuries.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

The results show progress of Starbucks’ turnaround plan under Chief Executive Brian Niccol, who has been working to streamline and boost the profitability at the coffee company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

For several days, Russian forces have been working to clear the road of mines, ahead of a planned evacuation of Oleshky's civilians on Friday.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Two guys are on each side of the table, all four in deep concentration working the rods, while a bunch of spectators jump around, shouting encouragement.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Researchers at Stanford have created a powerful new imaging system that reveals the inner workings of living cells with remarkable clarity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

Nobel Prize-winning American researcher Karl Deisseroth is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist and bioengineer who has spent more than two decades illuminating the workings of the brain to unlock its mysteries.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Her father, a retired clothing designer and patternmaker, had introduced her to the inner workings of the garment industry from a young age.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

And he added: "Parents and babies were getting transferred from our unit to other hospitals on a regular basis for additional treatment, operations… once you see the workings behind it, it doesn't seem as scary."

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

The complex workings of living beings can be perceived in terms of these layers: physics enabling chemistry, and chemistry enabling physiology.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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Related Words

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

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