English Reference

Word

workshop

Phoneticswork·shop

US/ˈwɝkˌʃɑp/

UK/wˈɜːkʃɒp/

Definitions

01a place for making things

B1

n. a room or building where people use tools and machines to make or fix things.

n. a physical space, typically smaller than a factory, dedicated to manual manufacturing, repair, or craft work.

“He spends every Saturday in his workshop building wooden furniture for his friends.”

“The artisan's workshop was cluttered with specialized tools and raw materials, reflecting decades of dedicated practice in leatherworking.”

Synonyms

02an educational meeting

B1

n. a meeting where a small group of people learns about a subject by doing practical activities.

n. a brief, intensive educational session emphasizing interaction, collaboration, and practical problem-solving among a small group.

“I attended a photography workshop to learn how to use my new camera properly.”

“The management team organized a two-day workshop to address communication barriers and develop a more cohesive strategy for the upcoming quarter.”

03to develop an idea

C1

v. to work on an idea or a piece of writing with a group to make it better.

v. to develop or refine a creative work or concept through collaborative discussion and iterative testing.

“The writers decided to workshop the script with actors before filming started.”

“The playwright spent several months workshopping the new production at a local theatre to identify pacing issues before the official premiere.”

Formal

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a play, a script, or a proposal.

Real-World Examples

“A range of activities are on offer, including space-themed arts and crafts and an adult workshop exploring solar eclipses and the night sky.”
BBC News · 12 Aug 2026
“The project began at the 2023 Graduate Research Workshop in Combinatorics in Wyoming, where Wisby joined researchers he had never worked with before.”
Phys.org · 17 Aug 2026

Etymology

From work + shop.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Santa's workshop — A busy, productive large or small work environment, populated by dedicated workers.

Domain

Business

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/workshop

English Reference