work
noun
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work
1 American
[wurk]
/ wɜrk /
noun
-
works
plural
-
exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil.
-
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
-
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,
-
(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,
-
everything; all related items or matters.
a hamburger with the works.
-
harsh or cruel treatment.
to give someone the works.
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adjective
-
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.
-
to act or operate effectively.
We all agree that this plan works.
-
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.
-
to undergo treatment by labor in a given way.
This dough works slowly.
-
to ferment, as a liquid.
verb (used with object)
-
works,
present (3rd person singular)
-
worked,
past participle, past
-
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
-
to bring about (any result) by or as by work or effort.
to work a change.
- Synonyms:
- achieve, produce, effect, accomplish
-
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).
-
to make, fashion, or execute by work.
-
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.
-
to cause a strong emotion in.
to work a crowd into a frenzy.
-
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.
-
work up
-
to move or stir the feelings; excite.
-
to prepare; elaborate.
Work up some plans.
-
to increase in efficiency or skill.
He worked up his typing speed to 70 words a minute.
-
-
work up to rise to a higher position; advance.
He worked up to the presidency.
-
work out
-
to bring about by work, effort, or action.
-
to solve, as a problem.
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
-
work off
-
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.
-
to pay or fulfill by working.
He worked off his debt by doing odd jobs.
-
-
work through to deal with successfully; come to terms with.
to work through one's feelings of guilt.
idioms
-
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.
-
make short work of, to finish or dispose of quickly.
We made short work of the chocolate layer cake.
-
at work,
-
working, as at one's job.
He's at work on a new novel.
-
in action or operation.
to see the machines at work.
-
-
work it,
-
to arrange something.
I'll try to work it so that we can all travel together.
-
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!
-
-
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.
-
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
-
another word for workmanship
-
the place, office, etc, where a person is employed
-
any piece of material that is undergoing a manufacturing operation or process; workpiece
-
-
decoration or ornamentation, esp of a specified kind
-
( in combination )
wirework
woolwork
-
-
an engineering structure such as a bridge, building, etc
-
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
-
-
at one's job or place of employment
-
in action; operating
-
-
informal to handle or dispose of very quickly
-
(modifier) of, relating to, or used for work
work clothes
a work permit
verb
-
(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
-
(tr) to cause to labour or toil
he works his men hard
-
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)
-
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
-
to provoke or arouse
to work someone into a frenzy
-
(tr) to effect or accomplish
to work one's revenge
-
to make (one's way) with effort
he worked his way through the crowd
-
(tr) to make or decorate by hand in embroidery, tapestry, etc
she was working a sampler
-
(intr) (of a mechanism) to move in a loose or otherwise imperfect fashion
-
(intr) (of liquids) to ferment, as in brewing
-
informal (tr) to manipulate or exploit to one's own advantage
-
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
-
have workedperfect
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have wroughtperfect
-
has workedperfect
-
has wroughtperfect
-
am workingprogressive
-
are workingprogressive
-
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:
Merck agreed to pay Moderna $200 million in 2016, which went to funding research to see how the mRNA cancer vaccine would work in combination with Keytruda.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
After splitting with the Royal Family, the Sussexes said they would work to become financially independent.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Bancel pressed staff on the likelihood that cancer vaccines could work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
He uses agents, but every few months has to recalibrate his work around their rapidly evolving capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Gravediggers work overtime as January reaches its end.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
But with the Department for Work and Pensions expanding its AI-assisted call centre and local councils following suit, she says older people are increasingly feeling shut out by new technology when contacting services they need.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Work in Gribble's lab by postdoctoral scientist Alyssa Liguori, who is now an assistant professor at SUNY-New Paltz, examined two different genotypes from the same rotifer species.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026
Work friends are said to be key to mental well-being at the office—but having one isn’t always an option for CEOs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Work on the project began last year with the sudden demolition of the East Wing, which used to house the offices of the first lady.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Work is so slow that I’ve damn near wiped the enamel off.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
How it works: One at a time, captains race toward a dock, turn sharply and reverse into a slip.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Maybe this stuff works on TV or on the stump.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
What may feel like a “bombshell” to the public has, no doubt, been in the works for some time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Hughes, who works for her boat-builder father, fell short in the singles and team heats in Pocomoke City.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
He works in Currier's stable for a year and a half.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
But the strategy has appeared to have only worked in the short-term.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
“The last adviser we worked with lost a significant portion of our portfolio.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Polish and German soldiers worked for five weeks at the frontier to dig trenches, lay barbed wire and place long lines of concrete barriers known as "hedgehogs" across the landscape.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Beth Pinsker worked out the numbers for a retiree who wants to spend winters in Florida and the rest of the year at home in Illinois.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
The crying kits would have worked better for an itch, but Clare didn’t bother saying it.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
But the transformations wrought by Gaudí and his collaborators are a triumph of architectural and sculptural imagination that has no real analogue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Hardwood floors run throughout the property, including in the bedrooms, save for the entryway which features a terracotta tile and a wrought iron staircase leading up to the second level.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Last year’s run took place in Venice due to the destruction wrought by the fires.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
After two major earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday, aerial footage has revealed the destruction wrought in the coastal city of La Guaira.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
The gate between the rampant wolves was wrought iron, bearing the symbol of the sacred ash and bordered by a high, spiked fence that circled the Ice Court’s grounds.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
The more work AI agents do, the more founders find themselves working.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Traditionally, it has been popular with mature students wanting to continue working while studying from home.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
It’s true that working moms often put themselves last and “Spa Weekend” is an argument for them to come first.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
“So get them working early, claiming that income, and then deposit the matching amount,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Since the summer, your hair . . . Seriously, it’s killing me. You started working here and now you have—” I gestured at her glorious mane.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
