work Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun activity directed toward making or doing something
   
   • she checked several points needing further work
2. noun a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
   piece of work.
   
   • 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
   • the work of an active imagination
   • erosion is the work of wind or water over time
3. noun the occupation for which you are paid
   employment.
   
   • he is looking for employment
   • a lot of people are out of work
4. noun applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
   study.
   
   • mastering a second language requires a lot of work
   • no schools offer graduate study in interior design
5. noun (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
6. noun a place where work is done
   workplace.
   
   • he arrived at work early today
7. noun the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
   oeuvre; body of work.
   
   • he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
   • Picasso's work can be divided into periods
8. verb 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
9. verb be employed
   do work.
   
   • Is your husband working again?
   • My wife never worked
   • Do you want to work after the age of 60?
   • She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
   • She works as a waitress to put herself through college
10. verb have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
    act.
    
    • The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
    • How does your idea work in practice?
    • This method doesn't work
    • The breaks of my new car act quickly
    • The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
11. verb perform as expected when applied
    function; go; run; operate.
    
    • The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
    • Does this old car still run well?
    • This old radio doesn't work anymore
12. verb shape, form, or improve a material
    process; work on.
    
    • work stone into tools
    • process iron
    • work the metal
13. verb give a workout to
    work out; exercise.
    
    • Some parents exercise their infants
    • My personal trainer works me hard
    • work one's muscles
    • this puzzle will exercise your mind
14. verb proceed along a path
    make.
    
    • work one's way through the crowd
    • make one's way into the forest
15. verb operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
    
    • She works the night clubs
    • The salesman works the Midwest
    • This artist works mostly in acrylics
16. verb 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
17. verb move in an agitated manner
    
    • His fingers worked with tension
18. verb cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
    bring; play; wreak; make for.
    
    • I cannot work a miracle
    • wreak havoc
    • bring comments
    • play a joke
    • The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
19. verb cause to work
    put to work.
    
    • he is working his servants hard
20. verb prepare for crops
    cultivate; crop.
    
    • Work the soil
    • cultivate the land
21. verb behave in a certain way when handled
    
    • This dough does not work easily
    • The soft metal works well
22. verb have and exert influence or effect
    influence; act upon.
    
    • The artist's work influenced the young painter
    • She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
23. verb operate in or through
    
    • Work the phones
24. verb cause to operate or function
    
    • This pilot works the controls
    • Can you work an electric drill?
25. verb provoke or excite
    
    • The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
26. verb gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
    
    • the political candidate worked the crowds
27. verb make something, usually for a specific function
    mould; form; shape; forge; mold.
    
    • She molded the rice balls carefully
    • Form cylinders from the dough
    • shape a figure
    • Work the metal into a sword
28. verb 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
29. verb make uniform
    knead.
    
    • knead dough
    • work the clay until it is soft
30. verb use or manipulate to one's advantage
    exploit.
    
    • He exploit the new taxation system
    • She knows how to work the system
    • he works his parents for sympathy
31. verb find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
    lick; work out; puzzle out; solve; figure out.
    
    • did you solve the problem?
    • Work out your problems with the boss
    • this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
    • did you get it?
    • Did you get my meaning?
    • He could not work the math problem
32. verb cause to undergo fermentation
    ferment.
    
    • We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
    • The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
33. verb go sour or spoil
    ferment; turn; sour.
    
    • The milk has soured
    • The wine worked
    • The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
34. verb arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
    
    • The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times

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