working

1 of 2

noun

work·​ing ˈwər-kiŋ How to pronounce working (audio)
1
: the manner of functioning or operating : operation
usually used in plural
the inner workings of the government
2
: an excavation or group of excavations made in mining, quarrying, or tunneling
usually used in plural

working

2 of 2

adjective

1
: engaged in work especially for wages or a salary
a working journalist
a working mother
2
: adequate to permit work to be done
a working majority
3
: assumed or adopted to permit or facilitate further work or activity
a working draft
4
: spent at work
working life
5
: being in use or operation
a working farm

Examples of working in a Sentence

Noun an article about the byzantine workings of the auction business for high-end art Adjective There is a good working relationship between the departments. the working parts of the machine
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
But the Teamsters union has said that these drivers face hazards on the job and deserve better working conditions. Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024 Newsweek contacted Trump's and Harris' 2024 campaign teams for comment by email on Tuesday early morning, outside of standard working hours. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
With my role, having a working knowledge of the runway helps with researching and deciding the best visuals to use across print and digital. Diego Portillo, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2024 PwC’s research indicates that individuals worried about finances spend three or more working hours per week dealing with these issues. Diane Winiarski, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for working 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of working was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near working

Cite this Entry

“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

working

1 of 2 noun
work·​ing ˈwər-kiŋ How to pronounce working (audio)
: the manner of functioning or operating : operation
usually used in plural
the inner workings of the motion picture industry

working

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: doing work especially for a living
working people
b
: being in an operating state
a working model
2
: good enough to allow work to be done
a working majority
a working arrangement

More from Merriam-Webster on working

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!