oeuvre

noun

oeu·vre ˈu̇-vrə

ˈər-,

ˈə-,

ˈœ-

plural oeuvres ˈu̇-vrə

ˈə(r)-,

ˈœ-

Synonyms of oeuvre next

: a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer

a catalogue of Rembrandt's oeuvre

scrupulously examines Dickens' oeuvre in order to demonstrate how his convictions helped to determine the shape of his novels—

G. J. Worth

Examples of oeuvre in a Sentence

a novel that occupies a relatively minor position in the author's oeuvre

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.

Though divisive, its surreal intensity and Laura Dern’s fearless performance solidify its place in Lynch’s daring oeuvre. —

Darryn King, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 Robby Müller Award – Lol Crawley Recipient of the sixth Robby Müller Award, Lol Crawley discusses his extensive oeuvre. —

Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025 The Basket This utterly irresistible addition to the Loewe oeuvre debuted at the spring 2017 womenswear show, and the world hasn’t been the same since. —

Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025 Where Pink Floyd’s Seventies oeuvre obsessed on the brutality of the human condition, Gilmour’s latest solo music concerns itself with humanity’s fragility. —

Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for oeuvre

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "work," going back to Old French ovre, going back to Latin opera "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of oeuvre was in 1889

See more words from the same year