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Definitions

work

[wurk] / wɜrk /
NOUN
labor, chore
Synonyms
STRONGEST
effort endeavor industry job performance production struggle task trial
STRONG
assignment attempt commission drudge drudgery exertion functioning grind grindstone moil muscle obligation pains push servitude slogging stint stress striving sweat toil travail trouble undertaking
WEAK
daily grind elbow grease salt mines
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fun idleness laziness unemployment
STRONG
entertainment
WEAK
failure loss pastime
NOUN
business, occupation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
activity art duty employment endeavor industry job office practice responsibility skill task thing trade
STRONG
calling commitment contract craft do gig grind line livelihood obligation profession pursuit racket slot specialization stint swindle vocation walk
WEAK
line of business métier nine-to-five
Antonyms
STRONGEST
entertainment fun hate idleness ignorance inactivity indolence irresponsibility laziness pastime unemployment
STRONG
avocation hobby recreation
WEAK
failure loss
NOUN
achievement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
act creation function performance piece product production
STRONG
application article composition deed handicraft handiwork oeuvre opus output
WEAK
end product
Antonyms
STRONGEST
destruction ruin
WEAK
entertainment failure fun loss pastime
VERB
to do work
Synonyms
STRONGEST
labor manage pursue strive toil try
STRONG
dig drive drudge freelance hustle manufacture moil moonlight ply slog specialize strain sweat
WEAK
apply oneself be gainfully employed buckle down carry on do a job do business earn a living have a job hold a job knuckle down nine-to-five it peg away plug away punch a clock take on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
stop
STRONG
be lazy idle laze
WEAK
destroy relax rest
VERB
manipulate, operate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplish achieve act carry out create drive function go handle implement manage move perform run serve take use
STRONG
behave cause contrive control direct effect execute force maneuver ply progress react tick wield
WEAK
bring about
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abstain cease discontinue discourage dissuade fail give up halt idle lose mismanage not finish pause receive refrain refuse stay stop
STRONG
abandon forget ignore let go neglect
WEAK
destroy laze relax rest
VERB
cultivate, form
Synonyms
STRONGEST
handle make
STRONG
dig dress farm fashion knead labor manipulate mold process shape tend till
WEAK
care for
Antonyms
STRONG
neglect
WEAK
destroy idle laze relax rest

Usage

What are other ways to say work? Work is the general word for exertion of body or mind, and it may apply to exertion that is either easy or hard: fun work; heavy work. Drudgery suggests continuous, dreary, and dispiriting work, especially of a menial or servile kind: the drudgery of household tasks. Labor particularly denotes hard manual work: backbreaking labor; arduous labor. Toil suggests wearying or exhausting labor: toil that breaks down the worker's health.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A fifth-generation owner, Bierlein had ambitions to work for the Chrysler corporation when he got out of college in the early 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It's paramount that astronauts work out: the microgravity environment takes stress off bones and muscles, which can lead to significant loss without precautions.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

"I can't focus on my work. I had to take time off from work due to pain and I'm just miserable."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Whatever the team work on next, there's one unique element which will undoubtedly remain - their unusual, yet perhaps fitting, Graham Norton ethos.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The next day Toos came to the door of Tante Jans’s room where I was talking with two new volunteers for our work.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.