Another Word for Work: 28 Synonyms with Examples
Work means a job, effort, tasks to be done, or something produced; as a verb it means to do a job, to function or to succeed. Swap it for a more precise word.
As a noun: a job or employment
As a noun: effort or tasks
- effort
- labour
- toil
- tasks
- duties
- exertion
- graft
As a noun: something produced
- piece
- creation
- composition
- product
- achievement
- output
As a verb: to function or succeed
- function
- operate
- run
- succeed
- be effective
- go
As a verb: to do a job
- be employed
- labour
- toil
- slave away
- graft
Need a different word?Look up any word in the synonym finder →
How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- job
- A particular paid position, or one task.
- employment
- Having paid work; formal and official.
- labour
- Physical work, or workers as a group.
- toil
- Long, hard and tiring work; literary.
- creation
- Something made with imagination, such as art or a dish.
- function
- To work as intended, used of machines and systems.
Example sentences
- job: She found a job at a garden centre.
- employment: The new factory will bring employment to the area.
- labour: Building the wall took weeks of hard labour.
- toil: After years of toil, the farm finally made a profit.
- creation: The chef's latest creation is a rhubarb tart.
- function: The lift has not functioned properly for weeks.
Opposite of work
- leisure
- rest
- unemployment
- fail
- idle
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “work”. Check the meaning before you use one.
verb: act
noun: study
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “work”?
The most useful alternatives are “job”, “employment”, “occupation”, “career”, “profession”. For the main sense (a job or employment), “job” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “job” and “employment”?
job: A particular paid position, or one task. employment: Having paid work; formal and official.
What is the opposite of “work”?
Common antonyms are “leisure”, “rest”, “unemployment”, “fail”, “idle”.