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Glite Dictionary
to work at

to work at

489 2.3
To try hard to get better at or finish something over time
  • phrasal verb
  • /wɜrk æt/
translation icon : trabajar en
  • He spent the last year working at a local restaurant to gain experience.
  • work at one's own pace

So I had to work at it tirelessly.

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Examples

  • But I worked at my dad's mechanic shop my whole life.

    My Old Ass (2024)

  • Fun fact, I used to work at Paris Baguette when I was in high school.

  • Well, you just keep working at it every day.

    Thunderbolts* (2025)

  • You still work at that insurance company?

    Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

  • I work at the University Stadium.

    Unbreakable (2000)

  • Students begin the program whenever they choose and are able to work at their own pace.

    Academic text (2011)

  • - You work at a bank in the city, that's how we met.

    Remember Me (2022)

  • What's it like to work at Linus Media Group?

  • The student, who worked at a nursing home, discovered that the home's future was in jeopardy.

    Academic text (2011)

  • In reality, that's what working at a place like McDonald's does.

Synonyms

to work on
vsto work at
∞ 2.6

Spend time and effort improving or finishing something

focuses on effort for achieving or finishing rather than improving only
to work through
vsto work at
152 3.4

To deal with a problem, task, or feeling step by step until it is done

is broader, applying to effort even without systematic or stepwise method
to toil
vsto work at
35 5.3

To work very hard for a long time

covers effort generally, not necessarily extreme intensity or long duration
to labor
vsto work at
  • US
26 2.7

To work hard on difficult physical tasks

is neutral about conditions and can mean effort in any situation
to go the distance
vsto work at
16 4.6

To keep working on a task until it is finished, even when it is hard

describes effort generally, not specifically persistence until completion
to work one's ass off
vsto work at
  • Offensive
13 8.4

Try very hard for a long time to do something

may imply effort over time but not necessarily extreme exhaustion
to work like a dog
vsto work at
  • Informal
8 3.4

Spend a lot of time doing hard, tiring tasks

can mean putting effort in without implying exhaustion or poor reward
to be at pains
vsto work at
  • Formal
3 7.7

To try very hard to do something carefully

focuses on effort broadly rather than specifically on careful, thorough effort
to put one's shoulder to the wheel
vsto work at
  • Informal
2 7.5

To start working very hard to reach a goal

covers effort overall, not only the act of starting determined work
to work like a horse
vsto work at
  • Informal
1 3.6

To use a lot of energy to do a hard job for a long time

is broader, including mental or short-term effort as well
to put one's shoulder into
vsto work at
  • Informal
1 6.8

To work very hard and use a lot of energy

is more general, not limited to energetic or forceful effort
to put a shift in
vsto work at
  • Informal
9.0

Work very hard for a short time to finish a task

is not limited to single sessions and includes ongoing effort over time

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

to neglect
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Hard

to toil
35 5.3
to labor
  • US
26 2.7
to devote
465 3.7
to work at
489 2.3
to try
∞ 1.0
attempt
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

work at infinitive
worked at past
worked at past participle
working at present participle
works at third person singular

Morphology

work + at

The meaning is directly compositional: 'work' (to perform labor/effort) combined with the preposition 'at' (marking location or target) yields ‘be employed at [a place]’ or ‘put effort into [something]’. This verb+preposition construction follows a common cross-linguistic pattern and is easily derivable by a B1 learner who knows the constituent words, so prior exposure is not required.

Etymology

The phrasal verb work at comes from the image of someone doing work right at a task or a desk, coming back to it and trying again. That's why work at means 'to try hard and spend time to improve or finish something'.