work
noun
1. activity directed toward making or doing something
- she checked several points needing further work
Definition categories: act, activity
2. a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
- it is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
- the symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
- he was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
Definition categories: man–made, product, production
3. the occupation for which you are paid
- a lot of people are out of work
Similar word(s): employment
Definition categories: act, business, job, line, occupation
4. applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
- mastering a second language requires a lot of work
Similar word(s): study
Definition categories: thought, acquisition, learning
5. (physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force
- work equals force times distance
Definition categories: phenomenon, energy
6. a place where work is done
- he arrived at work early today
Similar word(s): workplace
Definition categories: man–made
7. the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
- Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Similar word(s): oeuvre
Definition categories: man–made, output
Sentences with work as a noun:
- My work involves a lot of travel.
- He hasn’t come home yet, he’s still at work.
- Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
- We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
- Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
- We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
- There's a lot of guesswork involved.
- We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
- It is a work of art.
- the poetic works of Alexander Pope
- William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
verb
1. exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
- I will work hard to improve my grades
- she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Definition categories: social
2. be employed
- Is your husband working again?
- My wife never worked
- Do you want to work after the age of 60?
Definition categories: social
3. have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
- The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
- How does your idea work in practice?
- This method doesn't work
Similar word(s): act
Definition categories: social, succeed, win
4. perform as expected when applied
- This old radio doesn't work anymore
Similar word(s): function, go, operate, run
Definition categories: contact
5. shape, form, or improve a material
- work stone into tools
- work the metal
Similar word(s): process
Definition categories: creation, transform, transmute, transubstantiate
6. give a workout to
- My personal trainer works me hard
- work one's muscles
Similar word(s): exercise
Definition categories: body, work
7. proceed along a path
- work one's way through the crowd
Similar word(s): make
Definition categories: motion, pass
8. operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
- She works the night clubs
- The salesman works the Midwest
- This artist works mostly in acrylics
Definition categories: social, work
9. proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
- work your way through every problem or task
- She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
- Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Definition categories: social, go, move, proceed
10. move in an agitated manner
- His fingers worked with tension
Definition categories: motion, displace, move
11. cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
- I cannot work a miracle
Similar word(s): bring, play, wreak
Definition categories: creation, create, make
12. cause to work
- he is working his servants hard
Definition categories: social, apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize
13. prepare for crops
- Work the soil
Similar word(s): crop, cultivate
Definition categories: creation, fix, prepare, ready, set
14. behave in a certain way when handled
- This dough does not work easily
- The soft metal works well
Definition categories: stative, be
15. have and exert influence or effect
- The artist's work influenced the young painter
- She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Similar word(s): influence
Definition categories: social, affect, impact, touch
16. operate in or through
- Work the phones
Definition categories: social, operate, run
17. cause to operate or function
- This pilot works the controls
- Can you work an electric drill?
Definition categories: social, care, deal, handle, manage
18. provoke or excite
- The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Definition categories: perception, excite, stimulate, stir
19. gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
- the political candidate worked the crowds
Definition categories: emotion, becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, capture, catch, charm, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, trance
20. make something, usually for a specific function
- Work the metal into a sword
Similar word(s): forge, form, mold, mould, shape
Definition categories: creation
21. move into or onto
- work the raisins into the dough
- the student worked a few jokes into his presentation
- work the body onto the flatbed truck
Definition categories: contact, displace, move
22. make uniform
- work the clay until it is soft
Similar word(s): knead
Definition categories: contact, manipulate
23. use or manipulate to one's advantage
- She knows how to work the system
- he works his parents for sympathy
Similar word(s): exploit
Definition categories: consumption, apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize
24. find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
- Work out your problems with the boss
- this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
- He could not work the math problem
Definition categories: cognition, understand
25. cause to undergo fermentation
- The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Similar word(s): ferment
Definition categories: change, convert
26. go sour or spoil
- The wine worked
Similar word(s): ferment, sour, turn
Definition categories: change, turn
27. arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
- The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Definition categories: change, become, get, go
Sentences with work as a verb:
- He’s working in a bar.
- I work in a national park;
- I work as a cleaner.
- she works for Microsoft;
- I work closely with my Canadian counterparts;
- he worked his way through the crowd;
- He worked the levers.
- The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
- He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
- she works the night clubs;
- he pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
- They worked on her to join the group.
- A ship works in a heavy sea.
- this dough does not work easily;