work

SayWURK/wɝk//wɜːk/AUS/wɵːk/

Verbworks, working, worked

Noun pluralworks

Often confused with job

40 meanings of work

Practice

1
be employedverbintransitive
To have a job or do one's job, in a particular place, for an employer, in a particular role, or with particular people or things (with in, at, for, as or with).
We work with partners in three countries.
He worked with the same team for years.
2
verbintransitive
To do a task using physical or mental powers; to labor.
The volunteers had to work side by side, hauling sandbags along the riverbank.
They worked until the job was finished.
UsageSay work hard. Hardly means almost not: she hardly worked means she did very little.
Similarlabor, toil
Oppositerest, relax
3
functionverbintransitive
To function correctly, acting as intended or achieving what it was designed for.
The old radio still works if you hit it.
Threats don't work on her.
UsageAdd on for who is affected: flattery won't work on him.
Similarfunction, operate, run, succeed
Oppositefail, malfunction
4
nouncountable or uncountable
Labor or occupation; a job.
Good work is hard to find in a small town.
He went back to work after the holiday.
UsageFor a job, say find work or find a job; a work means a book, painting or piece of music.
Similarjob, employment, occupation
Note
Older English counted it freely: the 1611 Bible speaks of "every work that he began," where modern English would say every task. Shakespeare's "I have work in hand" is a phrase still in use today. Work in hand means something already begun and waiting to be finished.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
Earlier English used work countably for an individual task, as the biblical example demonstrates. en.wikisource.org
The King James Bible was first published in 1611. loc.gov
The quoted wording occurs in 2 Chronicles 31:21, with modernized spelling. en.wikisource.org
Shakespeare wrote this wording in The Merchant of Venice; Portia speaks it in Act III, scene iv. gutenberg.org
5
creative piecenouncountable
A literary, artistic or intellectual production.
Her last work was a novel about the sea.
The museum owns three works by the painter.
UsageA single painting is a work of art, and the complete output of a writer is their works.
Similarpiece, opus
Note
The countable product with a maker, and the plural carries weight: the poetic works of Alexander Pope means a whole body of writing, not a handful of poems. Milton used the word for a building, the work praised alongside its architect.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Alexander Pope wrote poetry. en.wikipedia.org
Milton used 'work' for a building, describing praise for both the building and its architect. en.wiktionary.org
6
tasks to donouncountable or uncountable
Something on which effort is expended; a task or tasks.
The work piled up while she was away.
Give the new assistant some real work to do.
Similartasks, assignments, workload
7
exertionnouncountable or uncountable
The labor or exertion put into a particular task.
Digging the garden was more work than we expected.
Planning a wedding is far more work than most couples imagine.
UsageUse a lot of work or too much work for quantity, and hard work for work requiring great effort.
Similareffort, labor, toil, exertion
Oppositerest, leisure, play
8
nouncountable or uncountable
The place where one is employed, or the employer one works for, as in 'drive to work' or 'my work pays for training'.
She drives to work every morning.
There is a gym at work now.
UsageNo article, like school: at work, go to work, leave work.
Similarworkplace
9
verbtransitive or intransitive
To operate in or cover a particular territory or specialty as part of one's job, as an officer works a beat.
She works the nightclubs on weekends.
Officers work a beat for months to learn it.
Similarcover, patrol, canvass
Note
Dropping the preposition turns the place into a direct object: a salesman works the Midwest, a performer works the nightclubs. The transitive frame suggests a territory or circuit that someone covers. By contrast, work in a place simply says where a job is.
10
gradual progressverbtransitive or intransitive
To move or make progress gradually or with difficulty, or to make something move in this way; often in work one's way or work its way.
Water will work its way into any crack.
The hikers worked their way up the rocky trail as the light faded.
Similarinch, edge
11
noununcountablein compounds
Things made or done with a particular material, tool or method, often in combination, as in stonework, needlework or ironwork.
The church is famous for its carved stonework.
The silver brooch is decorated with fine filigree work.
UsageSome are one word and some two: stonework, but filigree work. Learn each spelling.
Note
Compounds built on a material, tool or method include paperwork and filigree work.

Less common meanings

12
bring aboutverbtransitive
To bring about or cause (a result), especially in legal language and in set phrases such as work a miracle.
The clause does not work a change in ownership.
Time worked its usual changes on the town.
UsageOutside law, mostly in work wonders and work miracles: a rest will work wonders.
Similareffect, cause, produce
Note
Legal drafting keeps this causative use alive: a failure or clause works a forfeiture, a change, a dissolution, meaning it brings that result about. The object is always the effect, and the subject is often an event rather than a person.
13
shape (material)verbtransitive
To manipulate a material so as to give it form or shape, or to improve it.
Bakers work the dough until it is smooth.
The silver had been worked into thin leaves.
Similarshape, knead, mold, form, fashion
14
carry off (style)verbslangtransitive
To wear or perform something successfully or to advantage; to pull off.
"Work it!" the photographer shouted as the model strode down the runway.
He works a plain suit better than anyone.
UsageMostly the cheer work it!, praising confidence and style rather than effort.
Similarrock, own
Note
Slang of style and performance, most at home in the phrase work it, where it is the outfit, the look or the act being carried off. The verb praises confidence, not effort: someone working an unlikely combination makes it succeed.
15
manipulateverbtransitive
To influence, excite, or manipulate people or a situation to one's advantage, as in 'work the room' or 'work the system'.
Lobbyists work the rules to their clients' benefit.
He works every loophole he can find.
Similarmanipulate, exploit, game
16
verbtransitive or intransitive
To use, control, or operate a machine, device, or piece of equipment.
The campaign needs ten more volunteers to work the phones on election night.
He worked the phones all afternoon, calling every donor on the list.
Similaroperate, man, handle
17
noundatedcountable or uncountable
A factory or other industrial plant where goods are produced; in present-day English usually called a works.
Similarfactory, plant, mill
Note
An older use in which the singular names a whole factory, usually after what it makes: a steel work. Today the plural does that job, often closed up as steelworks or ironworks and treated as singular (a steelworks). The singular now reads as old-fashioned, met mostly in older technical and trade writing.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
Singular work formerly denoted a factory, including in the expression a steel work. en.wiktionary.org
18
force times distancenouncountable or uncountable
In physics, the energy transferred when a force moves an object, measured as the force times the distance moved in the direction of the force; more generally, the useful energy a machine or process delivers.
The work done by the engine equals the force on the piston multiplied by the distance it moves.
Pushing a wall does no work, however tired you get.
UsagePhysicists say work is done: the engine does work against friction.
Note
Physics narrows the everyday word to something exact: force multiplied by the distance moved in its direction. The result surprises learners. Holding a brick still over your head is hard work in ordinary speech, yet it is no work at all to a physicist, because nothing moves.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Holding a brick stationary does no mechanical work on the brick. openstax.org
19
cosmetic surgerynouneuphemisticcountable or uncountable
A discreet, polite way of referring to cosmetic surgery.
The actor admitted he'd had a little work done around the eyes before turning fifty.
Fans spent weeks arguing about whether the reality star's new look was makeup or work.
UsageAlmost always have work done or get work done, sometimes naming the place: work done on her nose.
Similarsurgery
Note
Usually heard in the phrase have work done, said of someone's face or body; its vagueness is the point, letting people talk about cosmetic surgery without naming it.
20
force to laborverbtransitive
To force to labor.
The foreman worked the crew through the night.
They work the mules in pairs on the steep track.
Similardrive, push
21
mineverbtransitive
To extract ore, coal or stone from a mine, quarry or similar source; to mine.
Small companies work the old coalfields the giants abandoned.
The quarry had been worked out by 1900.
Similarexploit, mine
22
be convenientverbintransitive
To suit a person or situation by being acceptable or convenient, usually followed by "for."
If Friday doesn't work for everyone, we can move the meeting to Monday.
Flexible hours work for some teams but not for others.
UsageShort replies are common: that works, Monday doesn't work for me.
Similarsuit
Note
The scheduling verb of offices and group chats: does Friday work for you? It sits close to the "function as intended" meaning, since a plan that works for everyone will probably succeed, but here the question is fit, not function.
23
nouncountable
A deed someone performs, especially a charitable or morally good one; usually used in the plural.
The foundation was set up to carry on his good works after his death.
Feeding the hungry has long been counted a work of charity in many faiths.
UsageMostly in good works, which sounds charitable or religious; everyday talk says good deeds.
Similardeed, act
Note
Good works suggests something steadier and more organized, the kind of giving a foundation or a congregation carries on.
24
who did itnoununcountable
Something brought about by the actions of a particular person, group, or force, typically mentioned to identify who or what was responsible.
Police believe the break-in was the work of a professional crew.
The jagged cliffs along the coast are the work of centuries of pounding waves.
UsagePattern: something is the work of someone or something: the fire was the work of an arsonist.
Similarhandiwork, doing, product, result
25
noun
A fortification.
26
nounslang
In prison slang, violent attacks carried out for a gang.
27
nounslang
Scripted action presented as if it were genuine.
28
noun
Ore that has not yet been processed.
29
nounslang
The kit used to inject a drug, such as needles and syringes.
30
noun
Bold, showy self-assurance of the kind a drag performer projects.
31
verb
To get something to move gradually and with effort.
32
verb
To decorate cloth with stitched thread.
33
verb
Of beer, cider or dough, to undergo fermentation and bubble.
34
verb
To set a liquid fermenting, as with yeast.
35
verb
To act on someone's mind or feelings, swaying them.
36
verb
To toss, heave or churn restlessly.
37
verb
Of a material, to respond in a given manner as it is shaped or handled.
38
verbliterary
To bring about a feeling or effect in someone, whether good or harmful.
39
verbobsolete
Of a body part, to ache or throb with pain.
‘I wolde hit were so,’ seyde the Kynge, ‘but I may nat stonde, my hede worchys so—’
1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur
40
verb
To perform or carry oneself with bold self-assurance, especially in drag.

More uses

workslarge building or engineering projects, such as roadworks

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of work apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 4–8, 11, 17–19, 23–24

Old English weorc became the Middle English noun work or werk. Its line goes back through Proto-West Germanic *werk and Proto-Germanic *werką to Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom. Related words include Dutch werk, German Werk and Ancient Greek érgon ("work"), and "erg" and "ergon" are doublets of it.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

The Middle English noun work or werk descends from Old English weorc. en.wiktionary.org
Its ancestry runs through Proto-West Germanic *werk and Proto-Germanic *werką to Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom. en.wiktionary.org
Dutch werk and German Werk are related to English work. en.wikisource.org
Ancient Greek érgon is related to English work. en.wiktionary.org
Ancient Greek érgon means work. en.wiktionary.org
English erg and ergon are doublets of work. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–3, 9–10, 12–16, 20–22

The verb goes back to Old English wyrċan (Mercian wircan), which became Middle English werken and worchen. Before that it comes from Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną ("to work") and Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti, which meant "to be working," built on the root *werǵ-. Dutch werken, German wirken and Gothic waurkjan are cognates.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 8 facts

The verb descends from Old English wyrċan, with Mercian wircan, through Middle English werken and worchen. en.wiktionary.org
Its earlier ancestor is Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną, meaning 'to work'. en.wiktionary.org
Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną descends from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti. en.wiktionary.org
Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti meant 'to be working'. en.wiktionary.org
Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti was formed from the root *werǵ-. en.wiktionary.org
Dutch werken is cognate with English work. en.wiktionary.org
German wirken is cognate with English work. en.wiktionary.org
Gothic waurkjan is cognate with English work. en.wiktionary.org