work on

verb

To apply mental or physical effort to (something) in order to shape, form, improve, investigate, solve it, etc.

“Do you work on Sundays?”

Similar
work atworkprocessshapeform
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Meanings

verbwork on (third-person singular simple present works on, present participle working on, simple past and past participle worked on)

present singular third person works on · participle present working on · participle past worked on · past worked on

  1. transitiveTo apply mental or physical effort to (something) in order to shape, form, improve, investigate, solve it, etc.

    John's in the studio working on the plans for the new house.

    1 more example

    I've been working on this problem for several days, but I still haven't figured it out.

  2. transitiveTo exercise influence on someone.

    Leave it to me. I'll try to work on the boss to give us the day off.

  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see work, on.

    Do you work on Sundays?

Synonyms & antonyms

verbto exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something

Similar
work at
Broader
work

verbshape, form, or improve a material

Similar
workprocessshapeform
Broader
transformtransmutetransubstantiate
Also see
forgeformmoldmouldprocessshapeworkwork at

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

work on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20on

MLA

“work on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20on. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “work on,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20on.

Source: work on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.