Search: Dictionary All Posts
Store Your Knowledge at the Brain Bank!
work Definition
Cancel
work
verb(work)perform as expected when applied
Examples:
This old radio doesn't work anymore.
work
verb(work)be employed
Synonyms: do work,
Examples:
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.
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.
work
noun(work)applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
Synonyms: study,
Examples:
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work.
work
verb(work)have and exert influence or effect
Synonyms: act upon, influence,
Examples:
The artist's work influenced the young painter.
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate.
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate.
work
verb(work)make something, usually for a specific function
work
verb(work)cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
Examples:
I cannot work a miracle.
work
noun(work)the occupation for which you are paid
Synonyms: employment,
Examples:
A lot of people are out of work.
work
verb(work)cause to work
Synonyms: put to work,
Examples:
He is working his servants hard.
work
verb(work)find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
Examples:
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out.
He could not work the math problem.
He could not work the math problem.
work
noun(work)a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
Synonyms: piece of work,
Examples:
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.
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.
work
verb(work)have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
Synonyms: act,
Examples:
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought.
How does your idea work in practice?.
This method doesn't work.
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water.
How does your idea work in practice?.
This method doesn't work.
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water.
work
verb(work)use or manipulate to one's advantage
Synonyms: exploit,
Examples:
She knows how to work the system.
He works his parents for sympathy.
He works his parents for sympathy.
work
verb(work)shape, form, or improve a material
Synonyms: process, work on,
Examples:
Work stone into tools.
Work the metal.
Work the metal.
work
noun(work)a place where work is done
Synonyms: workplace,
Examples:
He arrived at work early today.
work
verb(work)cause to undergo fermentation
Synonyms: ferment,
Examples:
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats.
work
noun(work)the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
Synonyms: body of work, oeuvre,
Examples:
Picasso's work can be divided into periods.
work
verb(work)give a workout to
Synonyms: exercise, work out,
Examples:
My personal trainer works me hard.
Work one's muscles.
Work one's muscles.
work
noun(work)activity directed toward making or doing something
Examples:
She checked several points needing further work.
work
verb(work)arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
Examples:
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times.
work
verb(work)behave in a certain way when handled
Examples:
This dough does not work easily.
The soft metal works well.
The soft metal works well.
work
verb(work)cause to operate or function
Examples:
This pilot works the controls.
Can you work an electric drill?.
Can you work an electric drill?.
work
verb(work)exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
Antonyms: idle,
Examples:
I will work hard to improve my grades.
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor.
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor.
work
verb(work)gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
Examples:
The political candidate worked the crowds.
work
verb(work)move in an agitated manner
Examples:
His fingers worked with tension.
work
verb(work)move into or onto
Examples:
Work the raisins into the dough.
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation.
Work the body onto the flatbed truck.
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation.
Work the body onto the flatbed truck.
work
verb(work)operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
Examples:
She works the night clubs.
The salesman works the Midwest.
This artist works mostly in acrylics.
The salesman works the Midwest.
This artist works mostly in acrylics.
work
verb(work)operate in or through
work
noun(work)(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
Examples:
Work equals force times distance.
work
verb(work)proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
Examples:
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.
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived.
Start from the bottom and work towards the top.
work
verb(work)provoke or excite
Examples:
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.