The right work synonym could be job, labor, effort, function or operate, depending on whether you mean employment, sweat, or a machine that runs properly. Few English words cover as much ground, which is exactly why work ends up in every second sentence of a report.
Scroll down for another word for work as a noun and as a verb, stronger choices for worked on a resume, a scale from light effort to heavy grind, and the antonyms.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps (noun)
job, effort, labor, tasks, occupationBest swaps (verb)
labor, function, operate, succeedPart of speech
Noun and verbMost formal
occupation, exertion, functionMost casual
grind, slog, do the trickAntonyms
rest, leisure, fail, malfunctionWatch out
Career means a long path, not one job. A summer job is not a career.Word forms covered
works, worked, working
Work as a noun: job, effort or output
Ask what the noun refers to. Is it the place you go each day, the energy you spend, the list on your desk, or the thing you produced?
Work as a verb: labor or function
The verb splits into people and things. People labor, strive or earn a living. Things function, operate or run. Plans and ideas succeed, work out or pay off.
- I work at a bakery becomes I am employed at a bakery.
- The printer does not work becomes the printer is not functioning.
- The trick worked becomes the trick did its job or paid off.
The effort scale, from tasks to grind
The five chips show how heavy the effort feels. Tasks is neutral, just items to finish. Effort adds energy spent. Labor suggests physical or long work. Grind is casual and a little weary: the daily grind. Toil sits at the heavy end, old-fashioned and literary, with a sense of exhausting, endless work.
Pick by mood. A proud report talks about months of effort, while a tired text to a friend talks about the grind.
Another word for worked on a resume
Worked on and worked with are vague. They tell a recruiter you were nearby, not what you did. Replace them with a verb that shows your role.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| worked on a website | built, designed, launched |
| worked with clients | advised, served, partnered with |
| worked with the sales team | collaborated with, supported |
| worked to cut costs | reduced, trimmed, negotiated |
| worked as a cashier | served as, was employed as |
See the resume and work words collection for more verbs that sell.
Using each work synonym in a sentence
- I have a lot of work this week becomes I have a heavy workload this week.
- She found work in the city becomes she found a position in the city.
- This plan works for everyone becomes this plan suits everyone.
- Years of hard work becomes years of dedication and toil.
- The works of a young poet becomes the writings of a young poet.
A note to a manager: "I worked on the report and worked late to finish it." Rewritten: "I drafted the report and stayed late to finish it." Two precise verbs replace two blurry ones.
Words that do not quite match
Career is a whole path of jobs over years, so my career at the cafe sounds odd for a two-month role. Chore suggests boring household jobs and can sound dismissive at the office. Profession usually means trained work such as law or medicine. Busy describes how full your day is, not the work itself. And graft means hard work in British English but bribery in American English, so use it with care.
Opposites of work
For the noun, rest, leisure and play are the natural opposites, and unemployment is the opposite of having a job. For the verb about machines, fail, break down and malfunction mean it stopped running.
- After a long week, she wanted pure leisure.
- The heater broke down overnight.
Related pages: hard work synonyms and working synonyms.
Frequently asked questions
Which word for work sounds more polished?
Occupation and profession sound more formal for a job, and endeavor suits a project. Labor and exertion are formal words for effort.
How do I say worked on in a resume?
Use a verb that shows your part: built, led, designed, managed or delivered. A figure or outcome next to the verb gives it extra punch.
What is a word for something that works well?
Effective, functional and reliable all fit. For a plan or method, try successful or practical.
Is labor the same as work?
Close, but labor stresses physical effort or hard, long work. It also has a special sense for paid workers as a group.
What is the opposite of work?
Rest, leisure and play are the usual opposites. If you mean a device, the opposite is fail or break down.
What is a works synonym for an author's works?
Here works means the things a writer created. Writings, books, creations or output can replace it.