work 1 of 2

verb

ˈwərk How to pronounce work (audio)
Definition of worknext
1
as in to cause
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this new drug can really work wonders

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning finally figured out how to work the math problem

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3
as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

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4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion this pump is worked by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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7
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort the organization has worked for years to raise people's awareness of human rights issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of a young boy who worked his aunt for all she was worth in toys and candy when she visited once a year

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work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

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2
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort the new Web application is the work of a pair of young but highly gifted programmers

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3
as in job
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists the work of a movie director is to tell a story through a series of striking images

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4
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result put a lot of work into the project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living what line of work are you in?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
His mother worked as a doctor in China, and juggled three jobs in the U.S. for over a decade, saving up enough to eventually open a medical clinic. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 31 May 2025 The data doesn't lie: vaccines work, including against COVID-19. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
On top of these funding woes, Beckman said the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, and shifting attitudes towards foreigners in the US, has also pushed her to look for work elsewhere. —Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 1 June 2025 He is noted for exceptional design work on notable homes in the area. —James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
  1. cause
  2. solve
  3. serve
  4. perform
  5. drive
  6. operate
  7. struggle
  8. use
Verb
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2025
  • The bureau doesn’t dispute that gender dysphoria can cause severe side effects, including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, the judge said.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Definition of cause
Verb
  • Eventually the problem of making safe, fuel-efficient, consumer-friendly automobiles was more or less solved.
    — Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • With an intention to welcome 1 million foreign workers over the next three years, the plan to solve Spain's overtourism issues has never been more prescient.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of solve
Verb
  • Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
    — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
  • The sales tax measure would be limited to areas served by MTS, so North County communities would be excluded because they are served by the North County Transit District.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Definition of serve
Verb
  • The rapper is a frequent visitor to Kansas City, having last performed at Azura Amphitheater for 2024’s Kelce Jam.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • Also in New York City, Uma Thurman brings her daughter Luna to the opening night of Eurydice, while Ciara performs at King's Cross in London.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of perform
Verb
  • Goldstein drove Boozer home with a sacrifice fly and Corral plated the go-ahead run with a single through the right side.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2025
  • And two-thirds of households with an EV have another non-EV that is driven more — hardly a recipe for climate success given that EVs must be driven (a lot) to deliver climate benefits.
    — Ashley Nunes, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Specific programs targeted for elimination include the Mars Sample Return mission, the currently operating Mars Odyssey and MAVEN missions around Mars, and several missions to Venus.
    — Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
  • For years, sales teams have operated under intense pressure to hit growth targets.
    — Sean Brophy, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of operate
Verb
  • For example, prior to May, Tesla's Australia sales struggled amid reports of vandalism and protests related to Musk's work with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and support for far-right parties in Europe.
    — Dylan Butts, CNBC, 4 June 2025
  • Both players have struggled with runners in scoring position this season, but that wasn’t the case Tuesday.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • The initiative draws water from the L.A. River in downtown L.A., cleans it and uses it to irrigate Los Angeles State Historic Park.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 June 2025
  • Administration officials initially weighed using Section 122 to impose higher tariffs but decided not to, due to the 150-day limit.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Definition of use

Phrases Containing work

Browse Nearby Words

wore to a frazzle
work
workability
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Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on work

Nglish: Translation of work for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about work

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