WORKING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does working mean? 

• WORKING (noun)
  The noun WORKING has 1 sense:

1. a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked

  Familiarity information: WORKING used as a noun is very rare.

• WORKING (adjective)
  The adjective WORKING has 5 senses:

1. actively engaged in paid work

2. adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something

3. adopted as a temporary basis for further work

4. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

5. serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity

  Familiarity information: WORKING used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORKING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mine or quarry that is being or has been worked

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

working; workings

Hypernyms ("working" is a kind of...):

excavation (a hole in the ground made by excavating)

• WORKING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Actively engaged in paid work

Synonyms:

on the job; working

Context example:

robots can be on the job day and night

Similar:

employed (having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something

Context example:

a working knowledge of Spanish

Similar:

practical (concerned with actual use or practice)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Adopted as a temporary basis for further work

Context example:

a working hypothesis

Similar:

impermanent; temporary (not permanent; not lasting)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

Synonyms:

functional; operative; running; working

Context example:

a functional set of brakes

Similar:

functioning (performing or able to perform its regular function)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity

Context example:

they need working agreements with their neighbor states on interstate projects

Similar:

operative (being in force or having or exerting force)

 Context examples 

Two hours she devoted to her diary; two to working by herself in the kitchen-garden; and one to the regulation of her accounts.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Or you may be working closely with a business partner or collaborator at work.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Scott turned his back on him, and returned to help the dog-musher, who was working over White Fang.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Cancer antigen 125 levels may also help monitor how well cancer treatments are working or if cancer has come back.

(Cancer antigen 125, NCI Dictionary)

Jonathan and I have been working day and night since Professor Van Helsing saw us.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Measuring the amount of CgA in the blood may help to diagnose cancer or other conditions or find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back.

(CgA, NCI Dictionary)

You are very good, I hope it won't hurt your eyes—will you ring the bell for some working candles?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The study of the internal workings of cells at the microscopic and molecular level.

(Cell Biology, NCI Thesaurus)

I saw her thin lips working while she looked at me, as if they were eager to load her with reproaches.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Measuring the amount of CA 27.29 in the blood may help to find out how well cancer treatment is working or if cancer has come back.

(CA 27.29, NCI Dictionary)