works 1 of 2

Definition of worksnext
present tense third-person singular of work
1
2
3
as in serves
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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6
as in uses
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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8

works

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noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 works
Verb
The average American now works about four years longer than during the 1980s, according to Gallup polling. Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026 Containing everyday shoes is one of the trickiest feats in a home, but a system that works for the whole family keeps the chaos contained. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026 The socks demonstrated borderline sorcery in their moisture-wicking ability (thanks to their three-layer construction) and are never cold, despite their outward thinness (Falke’s Polypropylene blend works wonders here). Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026 Zoe works primarily in reclaimed textiles, which also piqued Hannah’s interest. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026 Cape Weligama also works hard to reduce plastic, source local food, and improve waste management, which has included establishing plastic waste collection points along the coast. Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026 Only removing it completely works. Belinda Luscombe, Time, 9 Feb. 2026 Financial results suggest the strategy works. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026 Instead, Pawson works backwards with the conviction of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Simon Hughes, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
On the contemporary artist side, the duo Libby Rosen contributed seven luminous textile works made of marbled quilted fabric. Grace Edquist, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026 More than 30 of these works, created in a collaboration between people and bees, are in the exhibit. Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026 These works are of two main types, both of which fall under the broad category of collage. Benjamin Lima special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026 The opening night celebration in September features violinist Joshua Bell, after which Shelley will guide the season through a series of classic works, beginning with Mahler’s Second Symphony. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026 Malpaso’s repertory combines works by local dancemakers with international commissions, all performed with great musicality and finesse (proof that Cuban dance training, despite many challenges, is still topnotch). Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 Focusing on Mapplethorpe’s aesthetic research, the exhibition features over 200 works, tracing the evolution of Mapplethorpe’s visual language through themes like portraits, self-portraits, flowers and nudes. Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026 And while that was the first Ross book in years, fans don’t have to wait as long for his next opus, one that could be as ambitious and impactful as his classic works. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026 Ranger’s House guests can admire the red-brick Georgian home featured in several scenes and venture inside to see 19th-century businessman Sir Julius Wernher’s vast art collection, consisting of over 700 works of Renaissance art, medieval sculptures and jewelry pieces. Kayla Keegan, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works
Verb
  • But one recent study published in JAMA Cardiology uncovered some potentially lifesaving guidance that could help women with aortic regurgitation—a common condition where the heart’s valve doesn’t close properly and causes blood to flow backward and fill the left ventricle—receive treatment sooner.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Feb. 2026
  • How can anybody be that jealous and what causes it?
    Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Interestingly, this led to the creation of a lightweight, solid material that solves a major recycling headache of mattresses.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The inspiring monkey brain Theilman and Aimone assert that the brain routinely solves similar problems.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • While based in Fort Worth, Goodwill North Central Texas serves 18 counties in the region.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Eric Robles serves as showrunner and executive producer.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, which operates the jail, declined to comment citing pending litigation.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The organization operates in 44 countries and all 50 states, reaching roughly a million people a year.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Money may flow freely as the intuitive Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources, trining lucky Jupiter in your 10th House of Goals.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The intuitive Moon moves through your 9th House of Travel, heightening the longing to explore ideas that restore hope and widen your world.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The committee uses 12 criteria to determine who belongs in the field and where teams should be seeded.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Some suburbs are considering microtransit alternatives to DART, similar to the on-demand system Arlington uses in lieu of mass transit.
    Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The film tells the story 21-year-old Junyang, who drifts through life while his father quietly struggles to hold their modest home together.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The middle-aged woman cured of breast cancer who now struggles to climb stairs because endocrine therapy has carved away her bone density and caused joint aches.
    Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At the same time, the regime shamelessly exploits international sporting events to legitimize itself and whitewash its crimes.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
  • For Abercrombie & Fitch, fraud often exploits early refund programs and customer service escalation, according to Rob Sondergaard, the apparel retailer’s senior director of returns, fraud and abuse.
    Peter Sadera, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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