works 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of work
1
2
3
as in serves
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in operates
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in uses
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

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7
8

works

2 of 2

noun

plural of work
as in factory
a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of works
Verb
Technology works, but scaling it to a level that meaningfully impacts global emissions is an entirely different challenge. Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Otherwise, the oil works as a specialized scalp treatment, too, or to provide nourishment during protective styling. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025 Made viral by TikTok user Robyn Delmonte, the red-nail theory works similar to the manifestation manicure, in which wearing certain nail polish colors can help influence your future. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2025 Just as Dubas works for the Penguins and not for Crosby, Brisson works for Crosby and not the Penguins. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025 Kemp is doing just that ‒ and hoping that peer pressure works both ways. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Eliécer Camacho Jiménez, former general of the Colombian National Police (the organization that works closely with the DEA on combatting drug trafficking in Colombia), told me there are growing divisions within Maduro's circles. Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 That people might be falling for the Minneapolis shooter’s scribblings and raging at each other over potential motivations is likely thrilling to potential copycat killers—proof that the troll still works. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025 Roxanne works full time as a nurse, specializing in anti-aging and helping women over 50 take care of their bodies. Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Yet on this evening, the four women—a German, a Pole, a Belgian and a Frenchwoman—were playing Beethoven’s masterpiece, clandestinely since Jewish musicians were not considered worthy of playing such magnificent German works and were doing so just for their own pleasure. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 The addition of an Emerging Artist Competition—sponsored by the Art in Black Foundation—will provide national recognition and cash awards to rising talent, with winning works featured during the summit itself. Okla Jones, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025 The exhibition offers a timely exploration of the ways in which artists are looking at and thinking about nature in the twenty-first century, with works spanning a range of media, including sculpture, ceramics, drawing, painting and photography. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 The Community Action Committee proposed last November by the public works director, Matt Loesch, to facilitate audit recommendations has never been established. Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025 Joining the collection soon will be new site-specific works created by the artist collective RojoNegro (composed of Noé Martínez and María Sosa), sculptor Max Hooper Schneider and poet, artist and chef Precious Okoyomon. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 The estate is custodian of all works and legacy of Tolkien published during his lifetime, and the joint custodian of works published after his death with the Christopher Tolkien Estate. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works
Verb
  • But the treatment has been criticized since the early days as, variously, a Communist plot, forced mass medication and an industrial byproduct that causes more harm than good.
    Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2025
  • What To Know The basis of his decision, Greenfield said, was a long-running dispute with Unilever over the company's ability to pursue social justice and activist causes that were important to the founders.
    Hugh Cameron Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Your product solves a real problem.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
    Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The local office of the OIJ in Quepos, which serves the central Pacific area of the country and is in the area where Miller Gardner died, told CNN on Friday that it was asked to expand its investigation into the case.
    Djenane Villanueva, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The company operates sprawling businesses across retail, cloud computing, advertising, and other areas.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Russian government operates about half of the 210 total facilities, the report found.
    Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has confirmed plans to pursue the death penalty, meaning Robinson will remain in custody without bail as the case moves toward trial.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Conventional engines burn fuel in a steady process, where the flame front (the area at which combustion occurs) moves smoothly through a propellant mixture to produce continuous thrust.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In addition to Western guests, CGTN also uses Western news anchors and correspondents, giving the network an even more legitimate appearance.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The fund’s performance in the first seven months of the year — the most recent Boston Partners has made available on its performance — has comfortably outperformed that of the MSCI World Index, which its management team uses as a comparative benchmark index.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In recent decades, as China has laid down vast networks of high-speed rail and thrown up shimmering cities, Americans have developed a deepening sense that their own country struggles to get things done.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • He was sacked six times by a team that struggles to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
    Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • My Pafology, later retitled Fuck, a book that exploits nearly every Black stereotype.
    Lauren Morrow September 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Whether through cyber operations, intellectual property theft, or now these scam centers, China exploits grey zones that provide strategic advantage while maintaining deniability.
    Mike Kuiken, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Works.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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