Work vs. Working: What's the Difference?
By Janet White & Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 24, 2024
Work refers to tasks or duties performed to achieve a goal, whereas working describes the act of performing these tasks.
Key Differences
Work is a noun that refers to tasks, duties, or activities undertaken to achieve a specific objective or goal. It can encompass a wide range of activities, from professional employment to personal projects. Working, on the other hand, is the present participle form of the verb "to work," describing the act of engaging in these tasks or activities.
Work can also refer to a place of employment or the product/result of one's labor, while working highlights the process or action of performing tasks. For example, one might say, "I have work to do" to indicate tasks that need completing, whereas "I am working" focuses on the ongoing activity of completing those tasks.
In terms of grammar, work can function as both a noun and a verb. When used as a noun, it denotes a task or job, and as a verb, it means to engage in tasks. Working, however, is always used as a verb form, either as a present participle or a gerund. For instance, "She goes to work every day" uses work as a noun, while "She is working" uses the verb form.
Work often implies a broader concept, including the place, nature, and product of one's efforts, whereas working emphasizes the specific act of performing duties or tasks. This distinction is crucial in understanding their different uses in sentences and contexts.
When discussing the effort involved, work refers to the effort as a whole, while working zeroes in on the continuous application of effort. For example, "His work is highly regarded" refers to the overall quality of his tasks, whereas "He is working hard" describes his current effort in performing those tasks.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun, Verb
Present Participle, Gerund
Focus
Task or duty
Act of performing a task
Example Usage
"I have work to do."
"I am working on a project."
Temporal Aspect
General state or result
Ongoing action
Additional Meaning
Place of employment
Continuous effort
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Work and Working Definitions
Work
Tasks or duties performed for a purpose.
He completed all his work before the deadline.
Working
Performing duties related to employment.
He is currently working at a tech company.
Work
Employment or occupation.
She goes to work at 8 AM every day.
Working
Operating or functioning.
The machine is working efficiently.
Work
The result or product of effort.
The artist's work is displayed in the gallery.
Working
The act of putting effort into a task.
They are working hard to meet the deadline.
Work
Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something
Cleaning the basement was a lot of work.
Working
Performing work
A working committee.
Work
Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment
Looking for work.
Working
Operating or functioning as required
A working flashlight.
Work
A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood
His work is fixing cars.
Working
Having a paying job; employed
Working mothers.
Work
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking
Met her after work.
Working
Spent at work
A working life of 40 years.
Work
One's place of employment
Should I call you at home or at work?.
Working
Taken while continuing to work
A working vacation.
Work
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task
Begin the day's work.
Working
Sufficient to allow action
A working majority.
Work
An amount of such activity either done or required
A week's work.
Working
Adequate for practical use
A working knowledge of Spanish.
Work
The action or effect of an agency
The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Working
Serving as a basis or guide for further work
A working hypothesis.
Work
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing
This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
Working
The manner in which something operates or functions
The workings of the mind.
Work
An act; a deed
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun.
And, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
Working
The parts of a mine or quarry that have been or are being excavated.
Work
An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity
An early work of Matisse.
A scholarly work of great importance.
Working
Operation; action.
Work
Works The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole
The works of Bach.
Working
Method of operation.
Work
Works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
Working
(arithmetic) The incidental or subsidiary calculations performed in solving an overall problem.
Be sure to check your working.
Work
A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Working
Fermentation.
Work
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
Working
(of bodies of water) Becoming full of a vegetable substance.
Work
A piece of such textile art.
Working
A place where work is carried on.
The abandoned mine workings
Work
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture
Work to be turned in the lathe.
Working
(countable) A train movement.
Work
Works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination
A steelworks.
Working
Present participle of work
Leave him alone; he’s working.
Work
Works Internal mechanism
The works of a watch.
Working
That is or are functioning.
A working ventilator
Work
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Working
That suffices but requires additional work.
A working copy of the script
Work
Abbr. w(Physics) The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Working
In paid employment.
Working mothers
Work
Works Moral or righteous acts or deeds
Salvation by faith rather than works.
Working
Of or relating to employment.
The working week
Work
(Informal) The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the
Ordered a pizza with the works.
Working
Enough to allow one to use something.
Work
(Slang) A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the
Took him outside and gave him the works.
Working
Used in real life; practical.
The working minimum focus distance is the distance from the closest focusable subject to the lens.
Work
Of, relating to, designed for, or engaged in work.
Working
(obsolete) Efficacious.
Work
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
Working
A mine or quarry that is being or has been worked
Work
To be employed; have a job.
Working
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
Work
To function; operate
How does this latch work?.
Working
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
Work
To function or operate in the desired or required way
The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
Working
Adopted as a temporary basis for further work;
A working draft
A working hypothesis
Work
To have a given effect or outcome
Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.
Working
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;
In running (or working) order
A functional set of brakes
Work
To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful
This recipe seems to work.
Working
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
Work
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon
Worked on her to join the group.
Working
Engaging in tasks or activities.
She is working on her thesis.
Work
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement
The stitches worked loose.
Working
Continuous action or process.
Working in a team requires good communication.
Work
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously
Worked through the underbrush.
Worked through my problems in therapy.
Work
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion
Her mouth worked with fear.
Work
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed
Not all metals work easily.
Work
To ferment.
Work
To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.
Work
To sail against the wind.
Work
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear
The gears work against each other.
Work
To cause or effect; bring about
Working miracles.
Work
To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage
Worked the controls.
Can work a lathe.
Work
To shape or forge
"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Work
To make or decorate by needlework
Work a sampler.
Work
To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.
Work
To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation
Work the dough before shaping it.
Work
To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work
Finally worked the window open.
Worked the slaves to death.
Work
To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort
Worked her way to the top.
Worked his passage on the ship.
Work
(Informal) To arrange or contrive. Often used with it
Worked it so that her weekends are free.
Work
To make productive; cultivate
Work a farm.
Work
To cause to work
Works his laborers hard.
Work
To excite or provoke
Worked the mob into a frenzy.
Work
To gratify, cajole, or enchant artfully, especially for the purpose of influencing
The politician worked the crowd. The comedian worked the room with flawless rhythm.
Work
To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit
Learned how to work the system.
Worked his relatives for sympathy.
Work
To carry on an operation or function in or through
The agent who works that area.
Working the phones for donations.
Work
To ferment (liquor, for example).
Work
Employment.
Work
Labour, occupation, job.
My work involves a lot of travel.
Work
The place where one is employed.
He hasn’t come home yet; he’s still at work.
Work
(by extension) One's employer.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
Work
(dated) A factory; a works.
Work
Effort.
Work
Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Work
Sustained human effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
Work
Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
Work
(physics) A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
Work
A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process.
Work
(heading) Product; the result of effort.
Work
The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
Work
Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
Work
(countable) A literary, artistic, or intellectual production.
It is a work of art.
The poetic works of Alexander Pope
Work
(countable) A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
Work
The staging of events to appear as real.
Work
(mining) Ore before it is dressed.
Work
The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
Work
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
He’s working in a bar.
Work
Followed by in (or at, etc.) Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business).
I work in a national park
She works in the human resources department
He mostly works in logging, but sometimes works in carpentry
Work
Followed by as. Said of one's job title
I work as a cleaner.
Work
Followed by for. Said of a company or individual who employs.
She works for Microsoft
He works for the president
Work
Followed by with. General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts
You work with computers
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs
Work
(intransitive) To effect by gradual degrees;
To work into the earth
Work
(transitive) To effect by gradual degrees.
He worked his way through the crowd
The dye worked its way through
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand
Work
(transitive) To embroider with thread.
Work
(transitive) To set into action.
He worked the levers.
Work
(transitive) To cause to ferment.
Work
(intransitive) To ferment.
Work
(transitive) To exhaust, by working.
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
Work
(transitive) To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
Work
(transitive) To operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
Work
(transitive) To operate in or through; as, to work the phones.
Work
(transitive) To provoke or excite; to influence.
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
Work
(transitive) To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
Work
To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Work
(transitive) To cause to work.
He is working his servants hard.
Work
(intransitive) To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work;
My plan didn’t work
Work
To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
Work
(intransitive) To move in an agitated manner.
His fingers worked with tension.
A ship works in a heavy sea.
Work
(intransitive) To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily;
The soft metal works well
Work
To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
Work
To hurt; to ache.
Work
To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would never have thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
Work
Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor.
Man hath his daily work of body or mindAppointed.
Work
The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in handThat you yet know not of.
In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Work
That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
To leave no rubs or blotches in the work.
The work some praise,And some the architect.
Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements.
Work
Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery.
I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll have the work ta'en out,And give 't Iago.
Work
Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron works; locomotive works; gas works.
Work
Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct.
He shall reward every man according to his works.
Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.
Work
Break; twist.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness?
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you.
Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,Our life doth pass.
Work
Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
We bend to that the working of the heart.
Work
Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught.
She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him.
Work
To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded.
Work
To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea.
Confused with working sands and rolling waves.
Work
To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; - with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.
Till body up to spirit work, in boundsProportioned to each kind.
Work
To ferment, as a liquid.
The working of beer when the barm is put in.
Work
To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic.
Purges . . . work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, . . . in warm weather or in a warm room.
Work
To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.
He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time.
Work
To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth.
Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
Work
To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stainsOf rushing torrents and descending rains,Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines,Till by degrees the floating mirror shines.
Work
To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
Work
To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
Work
To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
Knowledge in building and working ships.
Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve.
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,Where they were wont to do.
Work
To cause to ferment, as liquor.
Tears of joy for your returning spilt,Work out and expiate our former guilt.
The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,Works up more fire and color in their cheeks.
Work
Activity directed toward making or doing something;
She checked several points needing further work
Work
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
Work
The occupation for which you are paid;
He is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
Work
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
Work
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Work
A place where work is done;
He arrived at work early today
Work
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force;
Work equals force times distance
Work
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity;
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Work
Be employed;
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
Work
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
Work
Perform as expected when applied;
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
Work
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
Work
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Work
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Work
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty;
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
Work
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity;
Work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Work
Move in an agitated manner;
His fingers worked with tension
Work
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Work
Cause to work;
He is working his servants hard
Work
Prepare for crops;
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
Work
Behave in a certain way when handled;
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
Work
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Work
Operate in or through;
Work the phones
Work
Cause to operate or function;
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Work
Provoke or excite;
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Work
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence;
The political candidate worked the crowds
Work
Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work
Move into or onto;
Work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
Work
Make uniform;
Knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
Work
Use or manipulate to one's advantage;
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
Work
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
Did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
Work
Cause to undergo fermentation;
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Work
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Work
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion;
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Work
The place where one performs tasks.
His work is located downtown.
Work
The effort or activity directed toward a goal.
Her work in the community is well-regarded.
FAQs
What does work mean in the context of employment?
In employment, work refers to the tasks or duties performed as part of one's job.
Can working describe a continuous process?
Yes, working often describes an ongoing or continuous process of performing tasks.
Is work more general than working?
Yes, work is a more general term encompassing tasks, effort, and employment, while working specifies the action.
What is the main difference between work and working?
Work is a noun or verb referring to tasks or duties, while working is the present participle form describing the act of performing tasks.
How is work used in a sentence?
e.g., "She has a lot of work to finish today."
Can work be used as a verb?
Yes, work can be used as a verb meaning to engage in tasks or duties.
Is working always used as a verb?
Yes, working is always used as a verb form, either as a present participle or a gerund.
How is working used in a sentence?
e.g., "He is working late tonight."
Does work have multiple meanings?
Yes, work can refer to tasks, employment, a place of employment, effort, or the product of effort.
Is there a difference in temporal focus between work and working?
Yes, work can refer to a general state or result, while working focuses on the ongoing action.
What does working imply about the nature of the activity?
Working implies an ongoing effort or process in performing tasks.
Is working used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, working is used in idiomatic expressions like "working around the clock."
How does context determine the meaning of work?
Context determines whether work refers to tasks, employment, place, effort, or product.
How is work related to professional tasks?
Work often refers to professional tasks or duties performed in employment.
What does working imply about the state of effort?
Working implies an active, ongoing state of effort.
How does work relate to the product of effort?
Work can refer to the result or product of one's efforts, such as a completed project.
Can working describe the functioning of machines?
Yes, working can describe the operating state of machines, such as "The engine is working properly."
What aspect of action does working emphasize?
Working emphasizes the continuous action or process of performing tasks.
Can work refer to a place?
Yes, work can refer to a place where one performs tasks, such as an office.
Can work and working be used interchangeably?
No, work and working are not interchangeable as they serve different grammatical functions and meanings.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Co-written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
