works
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for works, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A factory or industrial site, or the group of such facilities belonging to one operation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use works
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “works” mean?
The word “works” means a factory or industrial site, or the group of such facilities belonging to one operation. In plain terms, can mean a factory, the inner mechanism of a machine, or informally "everything included.".
How do you pronounce “works”?
“Works” is pronounced wurks (/wɝks/ in IPA).
How do you use “works” in a sentence?
Here is “works” used in a sentence: “The steel works closed down in the 1980s.”
What part of speech is “works”?
“Works” is a noun.
Is “works” a common word?
“Works” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “works” have?
“Works” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a factory or industrial site, or the group of such facilities belonging to one operation.
What is an example of a 'works'?
Heavy-industry sites often carry the word: a steelworks makes steel, a gasworks once produced gas, an ironworks shapes iron, and waterworks supply and clean water. You might also hear 'the brickworks' or simply 'the works' when local people mean the large factory or plant that dominates their town.
What is the difference between a 'works' and a factory?
The two overlap, but 'works' usually suggests heavy or large-scale industry and often forms a compound, as in steelworks or gasworks. Factory is the more general, everyday word for any building where goods are manufactured. A small unit making furniture is a factory, but rarely a works.
Is 'works' singular or plural?
In this factory sense 'works' looks plural but usually behaves as a singular unit: 'the steelworks is closing' is standard. It can take a plural verb when several separate sites are meant. The same form also serves as its own plural, so one works and two works are both correct.