work

noun

UK/wɜːk/
US/wɝːk/

Definitions of work noun

activity

  1. A1Uncountable

    An activity that involves physical or mental effort, typically done for payment, such as a job.

    • I have a considerable amount of work to complete.

    • Lifting heavy items all day is physically demanding work.

    • What time do you usually start or finish your work?

  2. A2Uncountable

    The materials someone uses at work, or the results of their labor.

    • I'll need to bring this work home to finish it.

    • All of the furniture is the product of the residents' work here.

place

  1. A1Uncountable

    A specific location where someone regularly goes to perform their job.

    • Is your commute to work long each day?

    • Each year, thousands of individuals suffer severe injuries at their work.

    • At what time does she leave for work?

creation

  1. B2Countable

    A creation resulting from effort, especially a painting, book, or musical piece.

    • This museum houses numerous works by Picasso, as well as pieces from other modern artists.

    • the literary works of Tagore

surgery

  1. Uncountableinformal

    A surgical procedure done to enhance one's physical appearance.

    • She denies having had any cosmetic surgery, but I believe she has certainly had some work done.

physics

  1. Uncountablephysicsspecialized

    The force applied to an object multiplied by the distance it moves.

Phrases of work noun

  • works

    A building or complex of buildings where manufacturing or industrial work is carried out, especially one employing a large number of people.

    The car works produces hundreds of vehicles daily.

  • the works

    everything that is normally included or that you might expect to be included in a particular situation

    He ordered a burger with the works: cheese, bacon, lettuce, the whole lot.

verb

UK/wɜːk/
US/wɝːk/

Definitions of work verb

effect

  1. B1IntransitiveVerb + adv/prep

    To be effective or achieve a desired result.

    • Her ideas for the department's reorganization will never work in practice.

    • The medication will start to work within a few minutes.

    • Some people may find my meditation practices unusual, but it works for me, and that’s what counts.

job

  1. A1TransitiveIntransitive

    To do a job, especially for the purpose of earning money.

    • Where do you work?

    • He works at the local hospital.

    • She worked as a cleaner at the hospital.

operate

  1. A2TransitiveIntransitive

    For a machine or device to operate, especially properly and without issues, or to make it operate.

    • Our phone is not working.

    • A team of about twelve people is needed to operate a furnace of this size.

    • This pump works using wind power.

state

  1. TransitiveIntransitiveVerb + adv/prep

    To gradually succeed in achieving a certain state, or to cause someone or something to reach a certain state, either by effort or through repeated actions.

    • He began as a technician and progressively worked his way up to become the managing director of the company.

    • Eventually, she worked her way through the large amount of technical documents.

    • Vibrations can cause nuts and screws to work themselves loose.

arrange

  1. Transitiveinformal

    To arrange for something to happen, usually by using unofficial means or by being clever.

    • I'm not sure how she managed it, but she retired at 50.

    • Can we arrange things so that there is always someone available to answer the phone during work hours?

shape

  1. Transitive

    To shape, alter, or process a substance.

    • Working with iron requires higher temperatures than working with bronze.

    • Gently incorporate the butter into the flour until there are no lumps remaining.

suffix

UK/-wɜːk/
US/-wɝːk/

Definitions of work suffix

  1. Used to indicate a specific type of work.

    • homework

    • paperwork

  2. Used to describe a skill or activity involving a specific material.

    • At this school, boys and girls learn woodwork and metalwork.

  3. Used to name items made from a particular material.

    • stonework

    • ironwork

Idioms

  • work a treat

    To function very well or to be highly effective.

    This new app works a treat on my phone.

  • work like a dog

    To work extremely hard; to toil relentlessly.

    I've been working like a dog for the past few months to finish this project.

  • have your work cut out (for you)

    to face a very difficult task or challenge.

    You'll have your work cut out for you trying to convince him to change his mind.

  • work like a charm

    To be remarkably effective or successful, often in a way that is surprisingly quick or easy.

    This method worked like a charm for me; I wish I had known about it sooner.

  • All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

    This idiom is used to warn someone that they will become uninteresting if they only work and never take time to relax.

    I've been working non-stop lately, without any rest. I need to remember the saying 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'.

  • work your way around to something

    To gradually prepare oneself or make progress towards being ready for something.

    After months of consideration, she finally worked her way around to the idea of living abroad.

  • work your fingers to the bone

    To work extremely hard for an extended period.

    The entire team worked their fingers to the bone to meet the deadline.

  • work wonders/miracles

    To have a remarkably positive effect or be surprisingly effective.

    Drinking a cup of this herbal tea daily works wonders for my digestive system.

  • be at work

    To be engaged in the process of working.

    The farmers are currently at work in the fields.

  • get/set to work

    to begin engaging in a specific job or task.

    We must get to work immediately to ensure the report is completed before the deadline.

  • work till/until you drop

    To work extremely hard to the point of exhaustion, making it impossible to continue working.

    I had to work till I drop to finish this project.

  • all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

    This idiom is used to warn someone that they will become uninteresting if they work all the time and never take time to relax or enjoy themselves.

    He's been working non-stop lately, with no time to relax. I think he needs to remember the saying 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.'

  • be in work

    To have a job or be employed in a position.

    He has been in work ever since he graduated.

  • be out of work

    To be unemployed and without a job.

    During the economic recession, many people found themselves out of work.

  • in the works

    Currently being planned or developed; in the process of being prepared or created.

    The company has a new marketing strategy in the works.

Phrasal Verbs of work

  • work up something

    to cultivate or arouse a strong emotional or physical state after a period of effort or duration

    She worked up her confidence before the speech.

  • work (yourself) up to something

    to progressively ready yourself for a challenging task

    He plans to participate in the marathon, so he is working himself up to this challenge.

  • work something off

    To relieve an unpleasant emotion by engaging in vigorous activity.

    She went to the gym to work off her stress by engaging in vigorous exercise.

  • work on something

    to invest time in fixing or enhancing something

    She is working on improving her essay.

  • work something out

    to perform a calculation to arrive at the solution of a mathematical problem.

    In math class, we learned how to work out solutions to equations.

  • work out

    to engage in physical exercise to enhance your body's strength or appearance

    She works out at the gym every day to stay healthy.

  • work at something

    to make significant efforts to accomplish a particular goal

    He decided to work at improving his English skills so he could work abroad.

  • work against/for someone

    to either complicate or facilitate someone's efforts to accomplish a task or goal

    His attitude worked against her promotion efforts.

  • work someone over

    to assault someone and cause injury

    The gang planned to work him over in the alley, and he ended up getting beaten badly.

  • work on someone

    to endeavor to persuade or exert influence over someone

    She tried to influence his decision, so she began to work on him.

  • work someone out

    to comprehend the motives behind someone's actions

    I spent weeks trying to work her out.

  • work (something) out

    When a problem or challenging situation improves over time or becomes satisfactory, or when you take action to make it so.

    After several discussions, they finally worked out a solution that resolved the issue.

  • work through something

    to address a complex issue by resolving its components step by step

    She decided to work through the complex issue step by step until she found the best solution.

  • work someone up

    to cause oneself or another individual to feel agitated or experience intense emotions

    His comments really worked me up.