working
WUR-kihng
Working (adj) means Currently employed or in paid work. Example: “Most working parents rely on childcare.”
adj
1
Currently employed or in paid work.
"Most working parents rely on childcare."
"She is a working mother with a very busy schedule."
"Many working people struggle to find affordable housing near their jobs."
2
Functioning correctly; operational.
"Is the smoke detector still working?"
"They found a working solution to the bug."
"Luckily the old lift is still in working order."
noun
1
The way something operates, or the process by which it functions.
"He explained the inner workings of the engine."
"Nobody understood the workings of the new ticket machine."
"The teacher showed us the working of a simple electric circuit."
How to use working
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither employed / functioning (adjective), or the mechanism/process behind something (noun).
Common pairings
working order
working parents
inner workings
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Word forms
- Plural
- workings
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Most _____ parents rely on childcare.
Etymology
From Old English "wyrċing," the verbal noun of "wyrċan," meaning to work.
Synonyms
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employed
in work
earning
gainfully employed
on the payroll
operative
functional
running
workings
up:
provisional
temporary
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for working
See all rhymes for working →Frequently asked questions
What does “working” mean?
The word “working” means currently employed or in paid work. In plain terms, either employed / functioning (adjective), or the mechanism/process behind something (noun).
How do you pronounce “working”?
“Working” is pronounced WUR-kihng (/ˈwɝkɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “working” in a sentence?
Here is “working” used in a sentence: “Most working parents rely on childcare.”
What is another word for “working”?
Words with a similar meaning to “working” include up:, provisional, temporary and in employment.
What is the opposite of “working”?
The opposite of “working” — its antonyms — are broken, broken-down and down:.
What part of speech is “working”?
Depending on how it is used, “working” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “working” come from?
The word “working” comes from Old English. From Old English "wyrċing," the verbal noun of "wyrċan," meaning to work.
Is “working” a common word?
“Working” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'working' and 'employed'?
In the sense of having a paid job, 'working' and 'employed' overlap closely. 'Employed' is slightly more formal and often official, used on forms and in statistics. 'Working' is more everyday and can even stretch to unpaid effort. Note that 'working' also has a second sense, functioning, as in 'a working engine.'
What other meanings does 'working' have?
Besides meaning employed, 'working' describes something that functions properly, as in 'a working printer.' It can also mean provisional or good enough for now, such as a 'working title,' 'working draft,' or 'working theory.' And it describes effort in progress, such as a 'working lunch' where people keep at a task.
What is the opposite of 'working' in the employment sense?
The opposite is 'unemployed' or 'out of work,' meaning not currently holding a paid job. Related terms include 'jobless,' 'retired' (no longer working by choice or age), and 'unwaged.' In the other sense of 'working,' meaning functioning, the opposite is 'broken' or 'faulty.'
What is a 'working parent'?
A working parent is someone raising children while also holding a paid job. The phrase highlights the balance between employment and family responsibilities. It uses 'working' in its employment sense, and appears in similar terms like 'working mother,' 'working family,' and 'working professional.'
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