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
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
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2026 Former employees previously told The Sacramento Bee the stores relied heavily on immigrant labor and were marked by allegations of wage theft, intimidation and poor working conditions, claims Loloee has denied. —Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026 State law requires ‘fair compensation’ Since CPW began the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado in 2023, the canines have killed or injured 76 head of livestock and two working dogs, according to the agency’s data. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for working
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
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail that all the events surrounding the birthday are thought to be official engagements, which will only include working royals. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2026 Former employees previously told The Sacramento Bee the stores relied heavily on immigrant labor and were marked by allegations of wage theft, intimidation and poor working conditions, claims Loloee has denied. —Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
As the estate celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, its 780-hectare landscape of olive groves, vineyards, vegetable gardens, and wildflower meadows remains a fully working agricultural property. —Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026 State law requires ‘fair compensation’ Since CPW began the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado in 2023, the canines have killed or injured 76 head of livestock and two working dogs, according to the agency’s data. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for working
Cite this Entry
“Working.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/working. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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