Work: meaning, definitions and examples

General term referring to tasks or activities you do regularly to achieve a goal. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• She has a lot of work to do today.
• His work as a scientist is fascinating.

A specific role or position in which someone is employed. Commonly used in both casual and professional settings.

• He got a new job as a software developer.
• She's looking for a summer job.

Refers to the state of having a paid job. It's used in formal contexts like legal, economic, or business discussions.

• The company offers full-time employment with benefits.
• Her employment with the firm started two years ago.

A formal term for the kind of work someone does, usually in the context of official documents or professional descriptions.

• Please state your occupation for the record.
• Architecture is her chosen occupation.

General term that refers to any activity requiring mental or physical effort to achieve a result. Commonly used to describe employment or projects.

• I have a lot of work to do today.
• She has been working on her thesis for months.

Emphasizes the amount of physical or mental energy put into an activity. Often used to highlight the difficulty or exertion required.

• Her effort in preparing the presentation was impressive.
• He put a lot of effort into finishing the project on time.

Focuses on the physical or manual aspects of work, frequently associated with laborious or demanding tasks. Can have a negative connotation of hard, strenuous work.

• The farm workers' labor was exhausting under the hot sun.
• Manual labor is still a significant part of the industry.

Refers to specific pieces of work, often smaller parts of a larger project. Implies a defined piece of work to be completed.

• My first task of the day is to reply to emails.
• She was assigned a difficult task at work.

This is a general term used to describe any kind of effort or activity undertaken to achieve a result, often in a professional context.

• I have to work late tonight.
• She works at a tech company.

This term is used to describe the act of completing a task or action, often implying a level of skill or proficiency. It may be used in both general and specific contexts, including arts and formal settings.

• The surgeon will perform the operation on Friday.
• They will perform at the concert tonight.

This term is used to describe performing a task with precision and adherence to a plan, often in formal or technical contexts. It can sometimes have a formal or rigid connotation.

• The engineer will execute the design according to the specifications.
• They need to execute the plan flawlessly.

This term is often used to describe the act of completing a task, project, or order, especially in a more formal or official context.

• The scientists will carry out the experiment tomorrow.
• The construction team will carry out the plan as scheduled.