Come on Neriſſa, I haue worke in hand / That you yet know not of; wee'll ſee our husbands / Before they thinke of vs? c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 177, column 1:
And in euery worke that he began[…]he did it with all his heart, and prospered. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Chronicles 31:21:
Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew’s cap and bells. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 257:
(countable, uncountable) Employment. ▸ The place where one is employed.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
(countable, dated, uncountable) Employment. ▸ A factory; a works.
In trials of a Martin furnace in a steel work at Remscheiden, Germany, a lining of zirconia was found in good condition after[…] 1917, Platers' Guide, page 246:
(countable, uncountable) Effort. ▸ Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Fifteen years of hard work went into the property's creation, which was undertaken by a legion of architects, designers, preservation and restoration experts, engineers, consultants, and artists. 2026 May 14, Julie Coe, “The Rest is History”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 36:
(countable, uncountable) Effort. ▸ Sustained effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
The Bat—they called him the Bat. Like a bat he chose the night hours for his work of rapine; like a bat he struck and vanished, pouncingly, noiselessly; like a bat he never showed himself to the face of the day. 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01:
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
(countable, uncountable) Effort. ▸ Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
(countable, euphemistic, uncountable) Effort. ▸ Something on which effort is expended. ▸ Cosmetic surgery.
has had a lot of work done
Luckily, our eyes have grown accustomed after decades of Botox, fillers and extreme “work” going mainstream, so we don’t notice the weirdness and read it instead as maximum hotness. Thank you, progress! 2025 May 20, Marina Hyde, “Was this a hen do or a humanitarian mission to liberate Paris? Either way, give Lauren Sánchez an award”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
(countable, slang, uncountable) Effort. ▸ Something on which effort is expended. ▸ Prison gang violence.
putting in work
(countable, uncountable) Effort. ▸ A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:work.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
(broadly, countable, uncountable) Effort. ▸ A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process: applied productively.
Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning "vortex", and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work. 2013 July-August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in American Scientist:
(in-compounds, often, uncountable) Product; the result of effort. ▸ The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
(in-compounds, often, uncountable) Product; the result of effort. ▸ Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
(countable) Product; the result of effort. ▸ A literary, artistic, or intellectual production; a creative work.
the poetic works of Alexander Pope
“[…] We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps? But since when did army officers afford the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic?[…]” 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
To leaue no Rubs nor Botches in the Worke: c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 140, column 2:
The haſty multitude / Admiring enter'd, and the work ſome praiſe / And ſome the Architect: 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 730–732:
It is a work of art.
(countable) Product; the result of effort. ▸ A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
(slang, uncountable) The staging of events to appear as real.
(countable, uncountable) Ore before it is dressed.
(countable, plural, plural-only, slang, uncountable) The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
While in San Francisco, where the AIDS crisis was particularly devastating, they saw numerous public awareness signs reading “Bleach Your Works” posted around the city, urging IV drug users to clean their needles with bleach to help staunch the spread of the disease. 2009, Gillian G. Gaar, The Rough Guide to Nirvana, Rough Guides UK, →ISBN:
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
He gave me a sour look. “All right is it? Well, you shoot some then.” I cooked up a grain and got out my works ready to take the shot. 1977 [1953], William S. Burroughs, edited by Allen Ginsberg, Junky, Penguin Books, →ISBN, pages 25–26:
If you buy new works, clean them before using them. If you share works, clean them before you or the next person uses them. Blood may be in your works even if you can't see it. Clean your works either with rubbing alcohol (available in drugstores), a household bleach solution (three tablespoons of bleach in a cup of water), or boiling water. 1996, Paul Harding Douglas with Laura Pinsky, The Essential AIDS Fact Book, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 25:
(countable, qualifier:LGBTQ slang, uncountable) The confident attitude of a drag queen.
All told, werk is about creativity, virtuosity, and a certain kind of mastery. 2018 April 17, madison moore, Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric, Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 27:
If the voice coming out of my body is legibly male, it complicates my presence. The work starts to approach that mysterious state of werq. 2022 January 25, Monique Jenkinson, Faux Queen: A Life in Drag, Bywater Books, →ISBN:
uk пра́ця (place where one is employed) · gd obair (place where one is employed) · pdt Oabeit (labour, employment, occupation, job) · uk пра́ця (labour, employment, occupation, job) · nl werk (labour, employment, occupation, job) · zh гунзуә (labour, employment, occupation, job) · nl werk (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · zh 作品 (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · gl choio (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ee dɔwɔwɔ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · tl isi (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bni bosali (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ca treball (result of a particular manner of production) · ln mosala (labour, employment, occupation, job) · svs aqutu (labour, employment, occupation, job) · el έργο (labour, employment, occupation, job) · hu munka (effort expended on a particular task) · scn opra (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · af arbeid (labour, employment, occupation, job) · lo ແຮງງານ (labour, employment, 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job) · gl traballo (place where one is employed) · gmw-ecg Arb (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ky эмгек (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kk қызмет (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fy wurk (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · fy arbeid (effort expended on a particular task) · ca treball (labour, employment, occupation, job) · gmw-ecg Arbitt (labour, employment, occupation, job) · yue 工作 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ml കൃതി (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · om hojii (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fr [6] ^((please verify)) création (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kk жұмыс (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kw oberedh (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · nn verk (labour, employment, occupation, job) · lo ນັກງານ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · mn ажил (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bg произведе́ние (literary, artistic, or intellectual 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energy expended in moving an object) · ml അധ്വാനം (effort expended on a particular task) · ms karya (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · ff golle (labour, employment, occupation, job) · jje 일 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · da arbejde (result of a particular manner of production) · tl trabaho (labour, employment, occupation, job) · mhn òrbet (labour, employment, occupation, job) · srn wroko (labour, employment, occupation, job) · gl traballo (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · hy աշխատանք (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · tr iş (place where one is employed) · ru рабо́та (labour, employment, occupation, job) · gl traballo (result of a particular manner of production) · yo iṣẹ́ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ru рабо́та (effort expended on a particular task) · la labor (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · ca obra (something produced using the specified material or tool) · ce болх (labour, 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artistic, or intellectual production) · luy ekasi (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fa شُغْل (labour, employment, occupation, job) · es trabajo (labour, employment, occupation, job) · oc trabalh (labour, employment, occupation, job) · hu munkahely (place where one is employed) · tk zähmet (labour, employment, occupation, job) · scn travagghiu (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · kw hwel (labour, employment, occupation, job) · rsk робота (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kca-eas рӑпөта (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ltg dorbs (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sk práca (labour, employment, occupation, job) · yi ווערק (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · hy գործ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · he עֲבוֹדָה (effort expended on a particular task) · fy wurk (effort expended on a particular task) · pl robota (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sl delo (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · lt darbas (labour, 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intellectual production) · dsb źěło (effort expended on a particular task) · wmw kazi (labour, employment, occupation, job) · hy ստեղծագործություն (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · so shaqo (labour, employment, occupation, job) · cs dílo (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · uk робо́та (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ko 저작 (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · wa ouve (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · fr travail (place where one is employed) · be пра́ца (place where one is employed) · hu feladat (labour, employment, occupation, job) · pt obra (something produced using the specified material or tool) · de Arbeit (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · koi удж (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ca feina (place where one is employed) · it lavoro (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · da arbejde (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · si වැඩ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fr [6] ^((please verify)) œuvre (labour, employment, occupation, job) · to ngāue (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ug ئىش (labour, employment, occupation, job) · pt obra (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · ki wira (labour, employment, occupation, job) · nap fatica (effort expended on a particular task) · es trabajo (place where one is employed) · sco wark (effort expended on a particular task) · lol bosali (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ca treball (place where one is employed) · pl praca (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · zh 工作 (effort expended on a particular task) · he עֲבוֹדָה (place where one is employed) · pl praca (effort expended on a particular task) · ru труд (result of a particular manner of production) · cs zaměstnání (labour, employment, occupation, job) · da værk (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · tr eser (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · os куыст (labour, employment, occupation, job) · tk iş (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sc traballu (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fr travail (effort expended on a particular task) · udi аш (labour, employment, occupation, job) · el εργασία (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sv arbete (place where one is employed) · sh рад (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · rom butǐ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kix yâng (effort expended on a particular task) · ja ワーク (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sm galus (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kmr xebat (labour, employment, occupation, job) · hy աշխատանք (effort expended on a particular task) · ky иш (labour, employment, occupation, job) · vot töö (labour, employment, occupation, job) · wni hadzi (place where one is employed) · mk работа (effort expended on a particular task) · sh rad (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · te శక్తికొద్దీ (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · de Arbeit (place where one is employed) · rm lavur (effort expended on a particular task) · gd cosnadh (labour, employment, occupation, job) · it impegno (effort expended on a particular task) · udi аьш (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ml ജോലി (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ka მუშაობა (labour, employment, occupation, job) · eo laboro (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · ml പ്രവൃത്തി (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · it impiego (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ff ligge (labour, employment, occupation, job) · es trabajo (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · txb lāṃs (effort expended on a particular task) · sl delo (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sl delo (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · ga obair (effort expended on a particular task) · he עֲבוֹדָה (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · zza eser (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · cu ⱅⱃⱆⰴⱏ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bg укрепле́ние (fortification) · sh ра̑д (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ml പണി (labour, employment, occupation, job) · cs mistrovská práce (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · mk де́ло (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · cu ⱃⰰⰱⱁⱅⰰ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · uk робо́та (place where one is employed) · he מְלָאכָה (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ru укрепле́ние (fortification) · fur vore (labour, employment, occupation, job) · izh raae (labour, employment, occupation, job) · la labor (labour, employment, occupation, job) · da værk (fortification) · oc òbra (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · sw kazi (effort expended on a particular task) · te వృత్తి (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bg изделие (something produced using the specified material or tool) · jje 공력 (effort expended on a particular task) · ru рабо́та (place where one is employed) · it lavoro (labour, employment, occupation, job) · scn opra (result of a particular manner of production) · ro ocupație (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ca treball (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · be пра́ца (labour, employment, occupation, job) · mt xogħol (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ru рабо́та (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · sh pòsao (labour, employment, occupation, job) · zza xebat (labour, employment, occupation, job) · zh 勞動 /劳动 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kmr kar (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ro serviciu (labour, employment, occupation, job) · it opera (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · dsb źěło (labour, employment, occupation, job) · xag 𐔰𐕐 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · fi teos (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · es laburo (labour, employment, occupation, job) · lad lavoro (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ro lucru mecanic (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · hi कृति (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · gd saothair (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · cs práce (labour, employment, occupation, job) · nl werk (effort expended on a particular task) · bg ра́ботно мя́сто (place where one is employed) · scn travagghiu (result of a particular manner of production) · et teos (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · da arbejde (effort expended on a particular task) · hu erőd (fortification) · hy աշխատանք (place where one is employed) · ro muncă (effort expended on a particular task) · ro muncă (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ca esforç (effort expended on a particular task) · scn travagghiu (effort expended on a particular task) · vi tác phẩm (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · sv arbete (result of a particular manner of production) · tg кор (labour, employment, occupation, job) · lv darbs (place where one is employed) · hy գործ (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · da arbejde (labour, employment, occupation, job) · da arbejde (place where one is employed) · fi työpaikka (place where one is employed) · id pekerjaan (labour, employment, occupation, job) · pt emprego (place where one is employed) · bg ра́бота (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bn কাজ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · orv трудъ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · hu védmű (fortification) · yi אַרבעט (labour, employment, occupation, job) · te కూలీపని (labour, employment, occupation, job) · it fatica (effort expended on a particular task) · hy աշխատանք (thermodynamics: energy in transit between one form or repository and another) · es tajo (place where one is employed) · sa कार्य (labour, employment, occupation, job) · bo ལས་ཀ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sg kusala (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ee dɔwɔwɔ (effort expended on a particular task) · scn fatica (effort expended on a particular task) · hi कर्म (labour, employment, occupation, job) · kix yâng (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ja 作業 (effort expended on a particular task) · de Arbeit (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · izh töö (labour, employment, occupation, job) · scn travagghiu (place where one is employed) · wa ovraedje (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ro lucrare (effort expended on a particular task) · ca obra (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · ga obair (labour, employment, occupation, job) · eo laboro (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ppl tekit (labour, employment, occupation, job) · scn opra (something produced using the specified material or tool) · gd obair (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · az əmək (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sv jobb (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ru произведе́ние (literary, artistic, or intellectual production) · kw ober (labour, employment, occupation, job) · da forsvarsværk (fortification) · sh по̀сао (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ja 仕事 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ja 労働 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · af werk (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · tt хезмәт (labour, employment, occupation, job) · km ការងារ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · de Arbeit (effort expended on a particular task) · lij lou (labour, employment, occupation, job) · zh 功 (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · zh 工作 (labour, employment, occupation, job) · unm mikëmòsëwakàn (effort expended on a particular task) · ist lavur (labour, employment, occupation, job) · olo ruado (labour, employment, occupation, job) · sh rȃd (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ar خِدْمَة (labour, employment, occupation, job) · mfe travay (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ckb کار (labour, employment, occupation, job) · uz xizmat (labour, employment, occupation, job) · mk утврду́вање (fortification) · hi उद्योग (labour, employment, occupation, job) · syl ꠇꠣꠝ (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ba эш (labour, employment, occupation, job) · tl himo (physics: measure of energy expended in moving an object) · ee dɔwɔƒe (place where one is employed) · ar شغل (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ar وَظِيفَة (labour, employment, occupation, job) · ko 작품 (literary, artistic, or intellectual production)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *werǵ-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti
Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną
Proto-West Germanic *wurkijan
Proto-Indo-European *werǵ-
Proto-Indo-European *-om
Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom
Proto-Germanic *werką
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Germanic *-janą
Proto-Germanic *wirkijaną
Proto-West Germanic *wirkijan
Old English wyrċan
Middle English worchen
English work
From Middle English werken and worchen, from Old English wyrċan and wircan (Mercian), from Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną (“to work”), from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti (“to be working, to be at work”), from the root *werǵ-. Cognate with Old Frisian werka, wirka, Old Saxon wirkian, Low German warken, Dutch werken, Old High German wurken (German wirken, werken and werkeln), Old Norse yrkja and orka, (Swedish yrka and orka), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (waurkjan).
Meanings
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
The world’s favorite airport and Asian mega-hub, Singapore Changi, is eagerly working towards opening its new Jewel and Terminal 5. 2018 December 6, Matt Falcus, “16 new airports and terminals we can’t wait to fly into”, in CNN, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2025:
He's working in a bar.
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business) [with in or at].
I work in a national park.
He mostly works in logging but sometimes works in carpentry too.
She works in the human resources department.
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ Said of one's job title [with as].
I work as a cleaner.
This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXXVII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 287:
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ Said of a company or individual who employs [with for].
He works for the President.
She works for Microsoft.
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients [with with].
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts.
You work with computers, right?
(intransitive, transitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ To be employed or operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
The salesman works the Midwest.
She works the night clubs.
(intransitive, transitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers. ▸ To be employed or operate in, through, or by means of.
She's working the phones.
(intransitive) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily.
The soft metal works well.
(intransitive) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
My plan didn't work.
The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content", or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing", "share the things you love with the world" and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention. Partly, this is a result of how online advertising has traditionally worked: advertisers pay for clicks, and a click is a click, however it's obtained. 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, volume 189, number 2, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Jun 2023, page 48:
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work.
Once again, the WiFi isn't willing to work. When the guard comes to check tickets, I ask him if it ever works. He rolls his eyes and tells me it rarely does. He says I'll be lucky if I get it to connect. I give up trying. 2025 October 15, 'Mystery Shopper', “About Anglia... and high scores”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 54:
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?
(intransitive) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To be appealing; to be approved of.
The chef's steak frites just didn't work for me.
That shirt doesn't work on her.
(ditransitive, intransitive, poetic) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
So sad it seemed, and its cheek-bones gleamed, and its fingers flicked the shore; / And it lapped and lay in a weary way, and its hands met to implore; / That I gently said: "Poor, restless dead, I would never work you woe; / Though the wrong you rue you can ne'er undo, I forgave you long ago." 1909, Robert W[illiam] Service, “The Ballad of One-eyed Mike”, in Ballads of a Cheechako, Toronto, Ont.: William Briggs, →OCLC, stanza 12, pages 54–55:
And indeed I blamed myself and sore repented me of having taken compassion on him and continued in this condition, suffering fatigue not to be described, till I said to myself, “I wrought him a weal and he requited me with my ill; by Allah, never more will I do any man a service so long as I live!” 1885, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman. [Night 557.]”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume VI, [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC, pages 51–52:
(intransitive, obsolete) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To hurt; to ache.
‘I wolde hit were so,’ seyde the Kynge, ‘but I may nat stonde, my hede worchys so—’ 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI:
(intransitive, slang, transitive) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would have never thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
(intransitive, qualifier:LGBTQ slang) To be operative in a specified way. ▸ To perform with a confident attitude, particularly as a drag queen.
Today, almost three decades later, the sentence, "You better work" from the song is used on a daily basis. 2022 February 1, Lindsay Bryde, Tommy Mayberry, RuPedagogies of Realness: Essays on Teaching and Learning with RuPaul's Drag Race, McFarland, →ISBN, page 41:
Plus, all that gym work means you've got muscles for days. You gotta werk it, babe." She puts a swish and swing into her next few steps before she bursts out laughing, and I have to join in. 2020 November 9, Shae Connor, Rough and Tumble, Entangled: Embrace, →ISBN:
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To set into action.
He worked the levers.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To exhaust, by working.
They were told of a ſilver mine, that had been worked by the Spaniards, ſomewhere in the Healthſhire Hills, in St. Catharine; but they were not able to diſcover it. 1774, Edward Long, chapter 11, in The History of Jamaica. Or, General Survey of the Antient and Modern State of that Island, volume 2, page 240:
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To provoke or excite; to influence.
"Still, boozers can be worked sometimes. Most people can, if you encourage their kink. One old woman staked me for three months because she got such a kick out of scandalmongering the neighbours to me." 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 17:
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Failure to hold the annual meeting, or to otherwise conduct the business of the annual meeting, shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Cooperative. 2022, Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation Bylaws, Article III, Section 3.01:
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To force or compel to work.
He is working his servants hard.
(figuratively, intransitive, transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To use intensely and successfully.
He worked that basketball like a boss!
(transitive) To cause to operate, be productive, behave a certain way, or happen. ▸ To be employed at (a job or role).
That summer I worked a job at the beach.
(intransitive) To continue laboriously. ▸ To move or progress slowly or with difficulty; to proceed with effort.
to work into the earth
We worked back again and picked up our intended route, but we did not find the clear run I had hoped for. 1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, published 1954, page 79:
(transitive) To continue laboriously. ▸ To move or progress slowly [with one's way].
The dye worked its way through.
He worked his way through the crowd.
(transitive) To continue laboriously. ▸ To cause to move slowly or with difficulty.
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand.
So the pure limpid Stream, when foul with Stains / Of ruſhing Torrents, and deſcending Rains, / Work’s it ſelf clear, and as it runs, refines; / ’Till by Degrees, the floating Mirrour ſhines, / […] 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iv, page 16:
(intransitive) To continue laboriously. ▸ To move in an agitated manner.
Here vex’d with Winter Storms Benacus raves, / Confus’d with working Sands and rolling Waves; / Rough and tumultuous like a Sea it lyes, / So loud the Tempeſt roars, ſo high the Billows riſe. 1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Brescia, Verona, Padua”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 54:
A ship works in a heavy sea.
His fingers worked with tension.
(intransitive) To ferment (produce alcohol from sugars). ▸ To ferment.
(transitive) To ferment (produce alcohol from sugars). ▸ To cause to ferment.
For Inanimate Things, you may trie the Force of Imagination, vpon Staying the Working of Beere, when the Barme is put in; Or vpon the Comming of Butter, or Cheeſe, after the Cherming, or the Rennet bee put in. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “X. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 992, page 255:
yue 做嘢 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · zh 作穡 /作穑 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da betjene (to set into action — see also operate) · fi toimia (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · bn কাজ করা (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fy wurkje (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fur lavorâ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da udnytte (to use or manipulate) · ar سَارَ (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · eu lan egin (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv funka (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru рабо́тать (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ro lucra (to shape, form, or improve a material) · gd obraich (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nl bewerkstelligen (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · pdc schaffe (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mk ве́зе (to embroider with thread) · bg рабо́тя се (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · mi whakarīrā (intransitive: to do a specific task) · yi אַרבעטן (intransitive: to do a specific task) · zh 運行良好 /运行良好 (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · zh 工作 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kw lavurya (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fo arbeiða (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es laburar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · pl wprowadzić (to set into action — see also operate) · ja 働きかける (to influence) · tk işlemek (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg по́лзвам (to force to work) · ca fer funcionar (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ps کار کول (intransitive: to do a specific task) · qu llamk'ay (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru обрабо́тать (to shape, form, or improve a material) · uk труди́тися (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nap faticà (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ja 働かせる (to use or manipulate) · mww ua hauj lwm (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es trabajar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · mk работи (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg изброди́ра (to embroider with thread) · fi aiheuttaa (to provoke or excite) · ar عَمِلَ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sl delati (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ro produce (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · af werk (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fr bosser (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fa کار کَرْدَن (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · vo vobön (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da arbejde (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca preparar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · fy wurkje (intransitive: to do a specific task) · it funzionare (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · an treballar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da virke (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · rup lucredz (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru проса́чиваться (to cause to move or progress) · mk обрабо́тува (to shape, form, or improve a material) · mk ра́боти (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · njo-jgl inyak (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg влия́я (to influence) · uz mehnat qilmoq (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca fermentar (to cause to ferment) · da bearbejde (to shape, form, or improve a material) · hi काम करना (intransitive: to do a specific task) · hu beválik (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru вы́звать (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · mn ᠠᠵᠢᠯᠯᠠᠬᠤ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · te పని చేయించు (to set into action — see also operate) · is virka (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · zh зўхуә (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kk жұмыс істеу (intransitive: to do a specific task) · gl traballar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es trabajar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · de wirken (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ro lucra (to cause to feel) · ru вы́шить (to embroider with thread) · fi käyttää loppuun (to exhaust) · mi mahi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ml പണിയുക (to shape, form, or improve a material) · fi käyttää (to cause to ferment) · ru вы́работать (to exhaust) · pap traha (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru пробра́ться (to cause to move or progress) · sco wirk (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · ru обраба́тывать (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ppl tequiti (intransitive: to do a specific task) · cs pracovat (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv jobba (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es torcerse (to move in an agitated manner — see also move) · sv driva (to force to work) · nds warken (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi vaikuttaa (to move or progress slowly) · sh ráditi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sc traballai (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kl sulivoq (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da arbejde (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · gmw-ecg arbittn (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es chejear (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg ка́рам (to cause to feel) · sh функционисати (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · bg изпо́лзвам (to use or manipulate) · fa کار کَرْدَن (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to cause to move or progress) · ru влия́ть (to influence) · sco wirk (to set into action — see also operate) · om hojjechuu (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi aiheuttaa (to cause to feel) · sga saethraigidir (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mfe travay (intransitive: to do a specific task) · uk працюва́ти (intransitive: to do a specific task) · it lavorare (to influence) · bg рабо́тя (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · he הֶעֱבִיד (to force to work) · it lavorare (to shape, form, or improve a material) · zza gureynayen (to set into action — see also operate) · ar اشتغل (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sh ра́дити (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ro face (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es labrar (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · zh 幹活兒 /干活儿 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es trajinar (to force to work) · pt trabalhar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ml പ്രവർത്തിക്കുക (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg пра́вя (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · es ser eficaz (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · tr işe yaramak (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · hy աշխատել (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · nl werken (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fa کَار کَرْدَن (intransitive: to do a specific task) · de arbeiten (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi kirjailla (to embroider with thread) · syl ꠇꠣꠝ ꠇꠞꠣ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru возбуди́ть (to provoke or excite) · alt иштеер (intransitive: to do a specific task) · tr iş görmek (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · es fermentar (to cause to ferment) · he עבד (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi teettää (to force to work) · izh raataa (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ka მუშაობა (intransitive: to do a specific task) · swb ufanya hazi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca afaiçonar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ky иштөө (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ia laborar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · uk роби́ти (intransitive: to do a specific task) · lmo lavorà (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg трудя́ се (intransitive: to do a specific task) · cdo 做事計 /做事计 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · st sebetsa (intransitive: to do a specific task) · vi được (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ca brodar (to embroider with thread) · lv strādāt (intransitive: to do a specific task) · be рабі́ць (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da sætte i arbejde (to force to work) · sv arbeta (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es chambear (intransitive: to do a specific task) · la operor (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · vi làm việc (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mk ра́боти (to use or manipulate) · is vinna (intransitive: to do a specific task) · he עָבַד (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da fungere (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · es hacer trabajar (to force to work) · tr işletmek (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · lt dirbti (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv bearbeta (to influence) · az çalışmaq (intransitive: to do a specific task) · tr işlemek (to cause to move or progress) · nl bewerken (to shape, form, or improve a material) · id bekerja (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg броди́рам (to embroider with thread) · tg кор кардан (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg ферменти́рам (to cause to ferment) · es bretear (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru вызыва́ть (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ja 働かせる (to force to work) · ppl tekiti (intransitive: to do a specific task) · srn wroko (intransitive: to do a specific task) · grc ἐργάζομαι (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to exhaust) · sv arbeta (to cause to move or progress) · fi käyttää (to use or manipulate) · la operor (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fr se travailler (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · fr travailler (intransitive: to do a specific task) · orv роботати (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg влия́я (to move or progress slowly) · nmn ǀgáã (intransitive: to do a specific task) · id memfungsikan (to set into action — see also operate) · tl magtrabaho (intransitive: to do a specific task) · yo ṣiṣẹ́ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi vaikuttaa (to influence) · ltg prācavuot (intransitive: to do a specific task) · qu llamk'ay (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fr broder (to embroider with thread) · fi olla töissä (intransitive: to do a specific task) · cs fungovat (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · sv gå (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · yua meyaj (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca consumir-se (to exhaust) · pl działać (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · xdq булша́на (intransitive: to do a specific task) · pl pracować (to cause to ferment) · cic toksali (intransitive: to do a specific task) · eo funkcii (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · da gå (to move in an agitated manner — see also move) · ro lucra (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sh funcionisati (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru вызыва́ть (to provoke or excite) · my လုပ် (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mk се ра́боти (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · hi काम करना (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · sg kusala (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ja 働く (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru рабо́тать (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · bg повлия́вам (to move or progress slowly) · et töötama (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nb jobbe (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mi awheawhe (intransitive: to do a specific task) · km ដើរ (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi tehdä (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ru выраба́тывать (to exhaust) · da bearbejde (to influence) · ar اشتغل (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to operate in, through, or by means of) · wa ovrer (intransitive: to do a specific task) · zh 做工 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca treballar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da arbejde (to move or progress slowly) · lb schaffen (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ast trabayar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca provocar (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · wa bouter (intransitive: to do a specific task) · aii ܦܵܠܹܚ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg ка́рам (to influence) · da udvirke (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · es bordar (to embroider with thread) · es laborear (to shape, form, or improve a material) · pl wyszywać (to embroider with thread) · cy gweithio (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mr काम करणे (intransitive: to do a specific task) · hak 做事 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · zza guriyen (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da virke (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · da brodere (to embroider with thread) · as কাম কৰা (intransitive: to do a specific task) · oc trabalhar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ang wyrċan (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg провоки́рам (to provoke or excite) · dsb źěłaś (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da drive (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · mt ħadem (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ro funcţiona (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ga oibrigh (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · cs opracovat (to shape, form, or improve a material) · unm mikëmòsi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv fungera (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · uz ishlamoq (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ro manifesta (to cause to feel) · fi käyttää (to set into action — see also operate) · ro fermenta (to cause to ferment) · ru труди́ться (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · eo labori (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca moure's (to move in an agitated manner — see also move) · la laboro (to shape, form, or improve a material) · es obrar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · rsk робиц (intransitive: to do a specific task) · tr işlemek (to embroider with thread) · hu dolgozik (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg обрабо́твам (to shape, form, or improve a material) · da gære (to cause to ferment) · ja 働く (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · txb lāṃs- (intransitive: to do a specific task) · cu дѣлати (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ro se comporta (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · sk pracovať (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca fer servir (to use or manipulate) · fr faire (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · zh 生效 (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · olo ruadua (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca treballar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ca fer funcionar (to set into action — see also operate) · pt funcionar (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · tr çalışmak (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru приводи́ть в де́йствие (to set into action — see also operate) · tt эшләргә (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ba эштәү (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv bearbeta (to shape, form, or improve a material) · da få til at arbejde (to force to work) · hy աշխատել (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru просочи́ться (to cause to move or progress) · ur کام کَرْنا (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fy wurkje (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · fi hivuttaa (to cause to move or progress) · ja 起こす (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ba эшләү (intransitive: to do a specific task) · el λειτουργώ (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · mk предизви́кува (to provoke or excite) · pl zużuwać (to exhaust) · ta வேலை செய் (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ht travay (intransitive: to do a specific task) · te వాడుకొను (to use or manipulate) · ee wɔ dɔ (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · jv gawé (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · tr çalıştırmak (to force to work) · fr opérer (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · fi muokkautua (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · bo ལས་ཀ་བྱེད (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sgz him (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to use or manipulate) · bg възбу́ждам (to provoke or excite) · zza kar kerden (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi tuottaa (to cause to feel) · lo ທຳງານ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fr fonctionner (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · mk предизви́кува (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ro munci (intransitive: to do a specific task) · te ఆత్రపడు (to provoke or excite) · pt fazer (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · mn ажиллах (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi tunkeutua (to cause to move or progress) · ist lavurà (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca fer anar (to force to work) · ms bekerja (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sm galue (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es obrar (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · pl pracować (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es tallar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · nb arbeide (to cause to move or progress) · ny -gwira ntchito (intransitive: to do a specific task) · jje 일ᄒᆞ다 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · got 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da bane sig vej (to cause to move or progress) · es rular (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi muokata (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ru рабо́тать (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kw oberi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nb arbeide (intransitive: to do a specific task) · pl obrabiać (to shape, form, or improve a material) · khb ᦵᦣᧆᦉᦱᧂᧉ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg манипули́рам (to use or manipulate) · el πλάθω (to shape, form, or improve a material) · te రూపుదిద్దుకొను (to shape, form, or improve a material) · fi työskennellä (transitive: to operate in a certain place, area, or specialty) · az işləmək (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi käyttää (to operate in, through, or by means of) · ca fer anar (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · sh радити (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · sq punoj (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ru вышива́ть (to embroider with thread) · fi tehdä työtä (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da arbejde sig (to cause to move or progress) · tr çalışmak (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · pt ativar (to set into action — see also operate) · ro opera (to set into action — see also operate) · ru испо́льзовать (to use or manipulate) · my အလုပ်လုပ် (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sh raditi (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · nb fungere (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ca fer funcionar (to force to work) · da anvende (to set into action — see also operate) · ro simţi (to cause to feel) · ca donar forma (to shape, form, or improve a material) · zza kar vinen (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · es labrar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · zh 做工 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kg kusala (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi ravistella (to move in an agitated manner — see also move) · fi työskennellä (intransitive: to do a specific task) · dlm stentur (intransitive: to do a specific task) · pt trabalhar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ee wɔ dɔ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nv naʼanish (intransitive: to do a specific task) · la labōrō (intransitive: to do a specific task) · hu összejön (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · nrf travailli (intransitive: to do a specific task) · vi hoạt động (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ro se manifesta (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · ru труди́ться (intransitive: to do a specific task) · si වැඩ කරනවා (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mk обли́кува (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ro folosi (to use or manipulate) · fi liikkua (to move in an agitated manner — see also move) · ar اِشْتَغَلَ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ga oibrigh (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kw gul hwel (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi teettää työtä (to force to work) · sco wirk (to move or progress slowly) · ca exhaurir-se (to exhaust) · bg повлия́вам (to influence) · hu működik (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · km ធ្វើការ (intransitive: to do a specific task) · rsk працовац (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ta வேலை செய் (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi aiheuttaa (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ru возбужда́ть (to provoke or excite) · grc πλάσσω (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ko 일하다 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nb gå (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · fi käydä (to ferment) · tr işlemek (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ca fer anar (to set into action — see also operate) · mk вли́јае (to influence) · da udnytte (to exhaust) · sco wirk (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kk істеу (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nl werken (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg провоки́рам (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · es carburar (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · hsb dźěłać (intransitive: to do a specific task) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · be працава́ць (intransitive: to do a specific task) · wuu 工作 (intransitive: to do a specific task) · rup lucredzu (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sv fungera (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · pms travajé (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sco wirk (to influence) · nl bespelen (to provoke or excite) · es currelar (intransitive: to do a specific task) · de funktionieren (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · cv ӗҫле (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca fer anar (to use or manipulate) · cu работати (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg изпо́лзвам (to force to work) · grc μορφόω (to shape, form, or improve a material) · he הִפְעִיל (to set into action — see also operate) · it lavorare (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi ohjata (to use or manipulate) · da forarbejde (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ru рабо́тать (to behave in a certain way when handled.) · ltg dareit (intransitive: to do a specific task) · la operor (to shape, form, or improve a material) · da bearbejde (to provoke or excite) · he עשה (to cause to move or progress) · el δουλεύω (intransitive: to do a specific task) · th ทำงาน (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ab ау́сура (intransitive: to do a specific task) · da få til at ske (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ar خدم (intransitive: to do a specific task) · sw kufanya kazi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fi työstää (to shape, form, or improve a material) · ale awal (intransitive: to do a specific task) · fr marcher (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru де́лать (intransitive: to do a specific task) · bg рабо́тя (intransitive: to do a specific task) · es hacer funcionar (to set into action — see also operate) · izh tehä töötä (intransitive: to do a specific task) · nb virke (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru манипули́ровать (to use or manipulate) · pt operar (to set into action — see also operate) · sv åstadkomma (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · ca tallar (to shape, form, or improve a material) · zdj hufanya hazi (intransitive: to do a specific task) · pl przedzierać się (to cause to move or progress) · bg изразхо́двам (to exhaust) · sco wirk (to shape, form, or improve a material) · scn travagghiari (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ne चल्नु (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ro acţiona (to set into action — see also operate) · ln kosála (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ja 働かせる (to set into action — see also operate) · to ngāue (intransitive: to do a specific task) · kaw gaway (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ext trebahal (intransitive: to do a specific task) · mk истро́шува (to exhaust) · ht mache (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · swb utsimidza (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · fr actionner (to set into action — see also operate) · ro lucra (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ru пробира́ться (to cause to move or progress) · ny -gwira ntchito (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · ml പ്രവർത്തിക്കുക (to function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for — see also function, effectuate, run) · lmo laurà (intransitive: to do a specific task) · tr çalıştırmak (to set into action — see also operate) · ky жумуш кылуу (intransitive: to do a specific task) · ca fer (to cause to happen — see also produce, motivate) · chr ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎭ (intransitive: to do a specific task)