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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
Berlin police worked with local and federal law enforcement to investigate the holdup and carried out search warrants later in the day, searching a residence on Route 5 in North Haven and a vehicle suspected to be involved. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026 An immersion blender is a convenient and portable option that works best to blend, purée, chop and crush smaller amounts of food. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Daniel’s Mill, which opened as a thread manufacturer in the Civil War era, requires the most work because one of its subsequent owners manufactured fire retardant paint, a process that contaminated the rafters, support beams, flooring and more. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026 Outside of work, Porter loves to spend time with his wife and very energetic 2 year old son. —Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026 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
  • While firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, the blaze caused significant damage to the store and destroyed merchandise.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Recurring internet blackouts have also compromised communications, and caused even more confusion for families, who have been racing to confirm the fates of those who have disappeared.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of cause
Verb
  • For over 150 years, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has conducted scientific research and experiments to help farmers diagnose and solve problems with their plants and soil, invasive insects and more.
    — Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
  • There are so many basic problems that publishers could solve without needing to work with a partner who has invented something entirely new, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of solve
Verb
  • There are a number of other guys that are leaders on the field that could have equally served in that opportunity.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
  • It’s served alongside rice cooked with mushrooms and herbs, a clever mashup of Malaysian nasi ulam and Haitian djon djon.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of serve
Verb
  • While many people have been introduced to English choral services through the angelic voices of the choristers in flowing robes and Elizabethan ruffs who sing at royal weddings and carol services, choirs perform every day in much more humble settings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • This year, the ritual was performed by his successor, Leo XIV, the first American Pope.
    — Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of perform
Verb
  • The decision to inaugurate the first urban Six Senses property in Rome was partially driven by the owner’s love of all things Italian and is part of a new drive to bring sanctuaries to bigger cities.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • More importantly, Slaughter expanded her game, operating more in the post, rebounding at a higher level and continuing to handle the ball effectively.
    — Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
  • In a statement Friday, before the AALA results were released, a district spokesperson said school operations would depend on which employees participate in a strike, ranging from campuses remaining open to operating with limited services or potentially closing.
    — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • Perhaps those June friendlies in Florida will give him one more chance to experiment, but the simple reality is that any Kane-less plan will struggle to get off the ground.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The waiver was established by the TEA to provide additional flexibility to go out of state to find qualified leaders to right the ships of struggling districts.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Building and construction unions no longer can use their old rhetorical cudgel in this debate — calling prefab homes flimsy and unsafe.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of use

Phrases Containing work

Browse Nearby Words

wore to a frazzle
work
workability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on work

Nglish: Translation of work for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about work

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of verdant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Apr. 3

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Popular

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
8-track-tapes
Good Old-Fashioned Quiz Can you name these antiquated items?
See All