# working

/ˈwɝkɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈɜːkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/working
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. having a job

adjective · CEFR A2

having a paid job or relating to your job.

For teachers: engaged in paid employment or relating to the period of time spent at a job.

- Most working parents find it difficult to balance their jobs and family life.
- The government introduced new tax credits specifically designed to support working families struggling with rising childcare costs.

### 2. functioning

adjective · CEFR B1

operating correctly or being in use.

For teachers: functioning or operating in the intended manner; currently active or in use.

- We need a working elevator because the stairs are too steep for my grandmother.
- The engineers managed to restore a working connection to the satellite just minutes before the window for data transmission closed.

### 3. provisional or practical

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

good enough to use for now, even if it is not finished.

For teachers: serving as a basis for further work; providing a practical or sufficient starting point despite being incomplete.

- The scientists have a working theory, but they need more evidence to prove it.
- The committee established a working definition of the term to ensure all departments were aligned during the initial phase of the project.

### 4. how something operates

noun · CEFR B2

the way that a machine, system, or organization operates.

For teachers: the manner in which a system, machine, or organization functions; often used in the plural to describe internal mechanisms.

- The book explains the inner workings of the human brain in simple language.
- To improve efficiency, the consultant spent a month observing the daily workings of the factory floor and the logistics department.

### 5. math steps

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

the notes and calculations you do to find the answer to a problem.

For teachers: the intermediate calculations or logical steps performed to reach a solution, particularly in mathematics.

- You must show your working in the exam to get full marks.
- Even though the final answer was incorrect, the student received partial credit because her working demonstrated a clear understanding of the formula.

## Examples

- I do not understand the internal working of this clock.
- The new documentary provides a rare look into the inner working of the national government during a crisis.
- To improve the software, the engineers had to map out the intricate working of the legacy code, identifying every dependency that might cause a system failure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.