work - meaning, examples in English

noun “work”

 sg. work, pl. works or uncountable

the activity one does to earn money
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She goes to work at the hospital every morning.
the location where one is employed
She left her phone at work, so she has to go back and get it.
one's employer
My work is throwing a holiday party next week for all the employees.
the energy or effort used to complete a specific job or activity
Planting a garden requires hours of work, from tilling the soil to planting the seeds.
in physics, it is the amount of energy used to move an object, calculated as the force applied to the object multiplied by the distance the object moves
Lifting the heavy box up the stairs required a lot of work because I had to exert force over the distance of each step.
a creation in literature, art, or scholarship
Shakespeare's plays are considered some of the greatest works in English literature.
a structure built for defense purposes
The soldiers took cover behind the ancient works, using the stone walls for protection during the battle.

 work; he works; past worked, part. worked; ger. working

to perform a job or task
She works hard every day to support her family.
to collaborate with others in a job setting
She works well with the design team to create stunning graphics.
to operate as expected
After tinkering with the engine for a while, it finally worked.
to gradually achieve something through effort
She worked her way through the crowd.
to decorate fabric using a needle and thread
She spent hours working the delicate patterns into the fabric with her needle.
to cause a device or system to operate
She worked the gears smoothly as she drove up the steep hill.
to undergo fermentation
After adding the yeast, the wine began to work in the sealed fermentation tanks.
to use something until it is depleted or worn out
The farmer worked his oxen hard, plowing the fields from dawn until dusk every day until they were completely worn out.
to mold or alter the form of a material
The potter expertly worked the clay into a smooth vase.
to have an effect on someone's thoughts or actions
The motivational speaker worked his magic on the crowd, inspiring them to pursue their dreams.
to skillfully manipulate a situation to one's benefit
He worked the crowd with his charm, getting them to agree to his proposal.
to bring about a particular result or event
The lawyer worked a settlement between the two parties, avoiding a lengthy trial.