Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Actively engaged in paid employment: "working" describes someone who is employed and performs labor for pay.
   • Functioning or operating: "working" describes something, especially a machine or system, that is in operation or capable of functioning.
   • Adequate for practical use: "working" describes something sufficient in strength, number, or knowledge to be effective or accomplish a task.
   • Serving as a basis for further development: "working" describes a preliminary version, such as a draft or hypothesis, that is used temporarily for ongoing development.

2. Noun:

   • A mine or quarry being exploited: "working" refers to a place where minerals are being or have been extracted.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She is a working mother with two young children. (She is a mother who is employed.)
  • After the repair, the engine is now in working order. (The engine is now functioning properly.)
  • He has a working knowledge of French for his travels. (He has sufficient French knowledge for practical use.)
  • The committee reviewed the working draft of the proposal. (They reviewed the preliminary, developmental draft.)

• Noun:

  • The old coal working has been closed for decades. (The old coal mine is no longer active.)

Advanced Usage

• "Working class": the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial jobs.

  • Policies aimed at supporting the working class were discussed.

• "Working relationship": a professional relationship between people who cooperate to do their jobs.

  • They maintain a good working relationship despite their differences.

• "Working lunch/dinner": a meal during which business is discussed.

  • The team scheduled a working lunch to finalize the project plan.

Variants and Related Words

• Work (v/n): The base verb meaning to exert effort or a task/job; or the noun for a task or employment.

  • I have to work late tonight. / Her work is very important to her.

• Workable (adj): Capable of being worked, done, or put into practice; feasible.

  • The plan seems workable with our current budget.

• Worker (n): A person who works, especially a manual or non-managerial employee.

  • The workers went on strike for better pay.

Synonyms

• Adjective (employed): Employed, job-holding.
• Adjective (functioning): Operational, functional, running.
• Adjective (practical): Functional, usable, operative.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Work out: To exercise; to find a solution or develop successfully.

  • I work out at the gym three times a week. / Let's work out a schedule.

• Work on: To spend time repairing or improving something.

  • He is working on his car engine.

Related Idioms

• All in a day's work: A normal part of one's job or routine, even if difficult.

  • Dealing with difficult customers is all in a day's work for her.

• Working against the clock: Trying to finish something before a deadline.

  • The engineers were working against the clock to fix the problem before launch.

Adjective

1. serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity
   • discussed the working draft of a peace treaty
   • they need working agreements with their neighbor states on interstate projects
2. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
   • in running (or working) order
   • a functional set of brakes
3. adopted as a temporary basis for further work
   • a working draft
   • a working hypothesis
4. adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something
   • the party has a working majority in the House
   • a working knowledge of Spanish
5. actively engaged in paid work
   • the working population
   • the ratio of working men to unemployed
   • a working mother
   • robots can be on the job day and night

Noun

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