working

The word “working” means currently employed or in paid work. In plain terms, either employed / functioning (adjective), or the mechanism/process behind something (noun).

“Working” is pronounced WUR-kihng (/ˈwɝkɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “working” used in a sentence: “Most working parents rely on childcare.”

Words with a similar meaning to “working” include up:, provisional, temporary and in employment.

The opposite of “working” — its antonyms — are broken, broken-down and down:.

Depending on how it is used, “working” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “working” comes from Old English. From Old English "wyrċing," the verbal noun of "wyrċan," meaning to work.

“Working” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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.'

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.

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.'

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.'