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
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
Synonyms
Examples of working in a Sentence
Adjective
There is a good working relationship between the departments.
the working parts of the machine
Recent Examples on the Web
Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
More than half of teachers wouldn’t recommend their profession to young people, as many educators struggle with poor working conditions and dismal wages.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
The batch of weapons provided to Ukraine were inspected and deemed safe and in working condition, said a U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the transfer process.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The general negotiations covering IATSE’s 13 West Coast Locals, where top issues including wages, working conditions and artificial intelligence will be discussed, is set to pick up again April 29.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
United Farm Workers aims to empower migrant workers through nonviolent tactics to have liveable wages and safe working conditions.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
In a statement, the executive director of the ARA, Jen Jacobsen, said the threats of artificial intelligence are worsening already-tough working conditions for artists.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
Another 35 pieces were domestic tools: digging sticks, pointed tools for piercing or working hides, and shafts that likely served as handles for axes or stone blades.
—Byandrew Curry, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
This includes understanding the key stakeholders involved, their goals and working styles, as well as language and cultural differences.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
David A. Brenner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024
Here on the tiny working waterfront of Tybee Island, Georgia, the hesitancy is logical.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2024
Working moms are turning to entrepreneurship Despite assumptions that pregnant women and mothers are less interested in career progression, Fawcett’s research found that most working moms remained just as ambitious after a baby—and nearly half became more ambitious.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
Soon, others followed with demonstrations of drawing a clone of Breakout, creating a working dial clock that ticks, drawing the snake game, making a Pong game, interpreting a visual state chart, and much more.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023
Till then, time to dust off those CDs — and find a working Discman.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
The places in America that produce the most working musicians tend to be the states with the largest Black populations.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
The run-up to the 2024 election will demand familiarity not only with Washington, but also a working knowledge of the courtroom.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
For International Coworking Day on Aug. 9, the company rented co-working space and arranged happy hours in nearly a dozen cities across the country.
—Taylor Telford, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Sep. 2023
Noun
The suit claims that the Charlotte office did not have the right working conditions for Billesdon because of bathroom locations on the opposite side of the building where his groups were situated.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
More than half of teachers wouldn’t recommend their profession to young people, as many educators struggle with poor working conditions and dismal wages.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
The batch of weapons provided to Ukraine were inspected and deemed safe and in working condition, said a U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the transfer process.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The general negotiations covering IATSE’s 13 West Coast Locals, where top issues including wages, working conditions and artificial intelligence will be discussed, is set to pick up again April 29.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
United Farm Workers aims to empower migrant workers through nonviolent tactics to have liveable wages and safe working conditions.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
In a statement, the executive director of the ARA, Jen Jacobsen, said the threats of artificial intelligence are worsening already-tough working conditions for artists.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
Another 35 pieces were domestic tools: digging sticks, pointed tools for piercing or working hides, and shafts that likely served as handles for axes or stone blades.
—Byandrew Curry, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
This includes understanding the key stakeholders involved, their goals and working styles, as well as language and cultural differences.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Few frontline physicians have a working knowledge of every rare disease, or even some.
—David A. Brenner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2024
Here on the tiny working waterfront of Tybee Island, Georgia, the hesitancy is logical.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2024
Working moms are turning to entrepreneurship Despite assumptions that pregnant women and mothers are less interested in career progression, Fawcett’s research found that most working moms remained just as ambitious after a baby—and nearly half became more ambitious.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
Soon, others followed with demonstrations of drawing a clone of Breakout, creating a working dial clock that ticks, drawing the snake game, making a Pong game, interpreting a visual state chart, and much more.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023
Till then, time to dust off those CDs — and find a working Discman.
—Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023
The places in America that produce the most working musicians tend to be the states with the largest Black populations.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
The run-up to the 2024 election will demand familiarity not only with Washington, but also a working knowledge of the courtroom.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
For International Coworking Day on Aug. 9, the company rented co-working space and arranged happy hours in nearly a dozen cities across the country.
—Taylor Telford, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'working.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
working
2 of 2 adjective1
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
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