noun

work

wurk

noun

A job or occupation; the activity someone does to earn a living.

"She left for work at seven every morning."

"He's been out of work since the factory closed."

Effort put into a task, especially something demanding or difficult.

"Renovating the house took months of hard work."

Something produced through creative or intellectual effort, such as a book, painting, or piece of music.

"The gallery is exhibiting new work by local artists."

verb

To do a job or perform labor.

"He works at the hospital three nights a week."

"She works from home most Fridays."

To function properly or have the intended effect.

"The new phone charger works perfectly."

"Their marketing plan actually worked."

How to Use Work

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a job/effort, or (as a verb) to labor at something or to function correctly.

Common pairings

go to work hard work work overtime work well

Word Forms

worked past tense, wrought past tense, works plural, work plural, worked plural, wrought plural, Works plural, works singular, work singular, worked singular, wrought singular, workest singular, workedst singular, worketh singular

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She left for _____ at seven every morning.

Etymology

From Old English "weorc," from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to make" — the same root that gives us "energy" and "organ."

Synonyms

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effort exertion pains wark

Antonyms

hobby

Related Words

hobby pain attempt building effort exertion suffer pains

Rhymes for work

cork fork york pork dork bork Mork stork spork rework network legwork

See all rhymes for work →

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