to work on
∞
2.6
- phrasal verb
- /wɜrk ɑn/
:
trabajar en
- They spent hours working on the presentation to make it perfect.
- work on a project
- work on a task
- a team worked on
And I go, I just worked two weeks on this, you fuck.
- And I go, I just worked two weeks on this, you fuck.
- Especially now after I've kind of spent a year working on CXOXO.
- Gifting is like my favorite thing to work on ever, I think.
- And he worked on it for a long time.
- I told him I did work on airline D Reg.
- You know, has he been trying to work on himself more in general?
- And we got to be friends When I started to work on his poetry.
- You know, we, I'm working on the Sclari Ranch.
- Is, does each thing that you work on, is there a story to it?
- He's given a grant to to work on his master's thesis.
Examples
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The belief is that people working on specific tasks will function more efficiently.
Academic text (2011) -
I'm probably gonna see him this afternoon to work on the special.
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I had three people working on it for three months.
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So it should be safe to work on now.
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Mr. Smith says, "We have been working on this music for a while now."
Academic text (2011) -
As you know, we have been working on this cabin.
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I'm just working on a score now for a film.
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Tomorrow morning I want you to start work on a completely new project, Mr Farnsworth.
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So I've been working on a new venture.
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Google Docs provides the ability for multiple people to be working on the same document, presentation, or spreadsheet.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
∞
1.3
To slowly make something stronger over time, like trust or skill
489
2.3
To try hard to get better at or finish something over time
152
3.4
To deal with a problem, task, or feeling step by step until it is done
50
3.9
To develop an idea, plan, or design with effort
39
3.2
To start doing a task or project seriously
Antonyms
How Improved
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to spend time and effort to improve, develop, or complete something' is directly derivable from combining 'work' (to exert effort or advance toward a goal) with the preposition 'on', which marks the target or focus of that effort. This verb + on pattern is a common, productive compositional structure in English (and parallels exist in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrasal verb work on gives a simple image: you work and focus your effort on one thing, like a carpenter fixing a table or a student improving an essay. That's why work on means 'to spend time and effort to improve, develop, or finish something'.