Work vs. Service — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
Work refers to tasks or activities, while service is work performed for the benefit of others.
Difference Between Work and Service
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Work encompasses a broad range of activities, including physical, mental, and creative tasks undertaken to achieve a specific outcome or to fulfill certain responsibilities. On the other hand, service specifically refers to activities or tasks performed to help or benefit someone else, whether individuals, groups, organizations, or communities. Service is inherently other-oriented, emphasizing the impact and value provided to others.
While work might not always involve interaction with others or have an immediate impact on someone else, service is characterized by its focus on providing value, assistance, support, or convenience to others. For example, writing a novel can be considered work, as it involves creative effort and skill, but teaching someone to read is a service, as it directly benefits the learner.
The motivation behind work can vary widely, from financial necessity to personal fulfillment or ambition. In contrast, service is often motivated by a desire to contribute to the well-being of others, altruism, or the fulfillment of a societal, professional, or ethical obligation. This distinction highlights the different drivers behind work and service, though both can be rewarding and meaningful.
In the professional realm, work is often associated with one's occupation or career, encompassing a wide range of professions and industries. Service, however, can be both a professional obligation (as in the case of service industries) and a voluntary act (such as community service or volunteer work). This reflects the versatile nature of service as both a component of professional roles and a standalone activity.
Both work and service contribute significantly to society, the economy, and individual lives. Work drives economic activity, innovation, and personal development, while service strengthens communities, supports the needy, and enhances the quality of life for recipients. The interplay between work and service underscores their complementary roles in fostering a functional, compassionate, and progressive society.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Activities undertaken to achieve a goal or fulfill responsibilities.
Tasks performed to benefit or help others.
Focus
Achieving specific outcomes or fulfillment.
Providing value or assistance to others.
Motivation
Financial gain, personal satisfaction, ambition.
Altruism, societal obligation, professional duty.
Interaction
Can be solitary or collaborative.
Often involves direct interaction with beneficiaries.
Outcome
Tangible or intangible products or achievements.
Improvement or convenience offered to others.
Professional Role
Broad, covering all occupations and industries.
Specific to service industries or voluntary acts.
Impact
Primarily on the individual or project.
Primarily on recipients or the community.
Examples
Writing, building, designing.
Teaching, caregiving, consulting.
Compare with Definitions
Work
Creative or artistic production.
Her latest work is a masterpiece of modern art.
Service
Professional work that prioritizes the welfare of others.
Social work is a profession deeply rooted in service.
Work
Exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something.
The architect's work on the new building is innovative.
Service
An act of assistance or benefit to others.
Volunteering at the shelter is a rewarding service.
Work
Employment, especially as a means of earning one's livelihood.
She finds her work in the nonprofit sector incredibly rewarding.
Service
The action of helping or doing work for someone.
The nurse's service to her patients goes beyond mere duty.
Work
A task or series of tasks performed to fulfill a job.
His work involves analyzing data and creating reports.
Service
Activities performed by a public servant or employee under an organization.
His service in the fire department is commendable.
Work
The sum total of one's contributions to their profession.
His life’s work has advanced the field of science significantly.
Service
A system supplying a public need.
The city's public transportation service has improved.
Work
Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something
Cleaning the basement was a lot of work.
Service
The action of helping or doing work for someone
Millions are involved in voluntary service
Work
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking
Met her after work.
Service
A ceremony of religious worship according to a prescribed form
A funeral service
Work
Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment
Looking for work.
Service
A system supplying a public need such as transport, communications, or utilities such as electricity and water
A regular bus service
Work
A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood
His work is fixing cars.
Service
A periodic routine inspection and maintenance of a vehicle or other machine
He took his car in for a service
Work
One's place of employment
Should I call you at home or at work?.
Service
A set of matching crockery used for serving a particular meal
A dinner service
Work
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task
Begin the day's work.
Service
(in tennis and other racket sports) the action or right of serving to begin play.
Work
An amount of such activity either done or required
A week's work.
Service
The formal delivery of a document such as a writ or summons.
Work
The action or effect of an agency
The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Service
Perform routine maintenance or repair work on (a vehicle or machine)
Ensure that gas appliances are serviced regularly
Work
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing
This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
Service
(of a male animal) mate with (a female animal)
One dog could presumably service several bitches in a day
Work
An act; a deed
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun.
And, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
Service
Work that is done for others as an occupation or business
Has done service for us as a consultant.
Work
An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity
An early work of Matisse.
A scholarly work of great importance.
Service
The performance of work or duties for a superior or as a servant
Found the butler's service to be excellent.
Work
Works The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole
The works of Bach.
Service
An act or a variety of work done for others, especially for pay
Offers a superior service to that of his competitors.
Provides full catering services.
Work
Works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
Service
Assistance; help
Was of great service to him during his illness.
Work
A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Service
An act of assistance or benefit; a favor
My friend did me a service in fixing the door.
Work
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
Service
The serving of food or the manner in which it is served
The service was good, but the food was lousy.
Work
A piece of such textile art.
Service
A set of dishes or utensils
A silver tea service.
Work
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture
Work to be turned in the lathe.
Service
Employment in duties or work for another, as for a government
Has been in the company's service for 15 years.
Work
Works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination
A steelworks.
Service
A government branch or department and its employees
The diplomatic service.
Work
Works Internal mechanism
The works of a watch.
Service
A department or branch of a hospital staff that provides specified patient care
The anesthesiology service.
Work
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Service
The armed forces of a nation
Joined the service right after college.
Work
Abbr. w(Physics) The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Service
A branch of the armed forces of a nation.
Work
Works Moral or righteous acts or deeds
Salvation by faith rather than works.
Service
The installation, maintenance, or repairs provided or guaranteed by a dealer or manufacturer
A dealer with full parts and service.
Work
(Informal) The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the
Ordered a pizza with the works.
Service
The provision to the public of something, especially a utility
A town without sewer service.
Work
(Slang) A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the
Took him outside and gave him the works.
Service
The system or equipment used to provide something to the public
The electrical service was damaged in the storm.
Work
Of, relating to, designed for, or engaged in work.
Service
The right of serving in many court games.
Work
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
Service
A serve
Her first service hit the net.
Work
To be employed; have a job.
Service
A religious rite or formal ceremony
Held services in the evening.
A memorial service.
Work
To function; operate
How does this latch work?.
Service
Copulation with a female animal. Used of male animals, especially studs.
Work
To function or operate in the desired or required way
The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
Service
(Law) The serving of a legal process, such as a summons or court order.
Work
To have a given effect or outcome
Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.
Service
The material, such as cord, used in binding or wrapping rope.
Work
To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful
This recipe seems to work.
Service
An answering service.
Work
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon
Worked on her to join the group.
Service
To make fit for use; adjust, repair, or maintain
Service a car.
Work
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement
The stitches worked loose.
Service
To provide services to
That cable company services most households in the area.
Work
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously
Worked through the underbrush.
Worked through my problems in therapy.
Service
To make interest payments on (a debt).
Work
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion
Her mouth worked with fear.
Service
To copulate with (a female animal). Used of a male animal, especially studs.
Work
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed
Not all metals work easily.
Service
Of or relating to the armed forces of a country.
Work
To ferment.
Service
Intended for use in supplying or serving
A service elevator.
The service entrance.
Work
To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.
Service
Offering repairs or maintenance
A service guarantee.
A road service area.
Work
To sail against the wind.
Service
Offering services to the public in response to need or demand
A service industry.
Work
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear
The gears work against each other.
Service
An act of being of assistance to someone.
I say I did him a service by ending our relationship
– now he can freely pursue his career.
Work
To cause or effect; bring about
Working miracles.
Service
(economics) The practice of providing such a service as economic activity.
Hair care is a service industry.
Work
To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage
Worked the controls.
Can work a lathe.
Service
A department in a company, an organization, a government department, etc.
Work
To shape or forge
"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Service
(computing) A function that is provided by one program or machine for another.
This machine provides the name service for the LAN.
Work
To make or decorate by needlework
Work a sampler.
Service
The state of being subordinate to or employed by an individual or group
Lancelot was at the service of King Arthur.
Work
To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.
Service
The military.
I did three years in the service before coming here.
Work
To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation
Work the dough before shaping it.
Service
A set of dishes or utensils.
She brought out the silver tea service.
Work
To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work
Finally worked the window open.
Worked the slaves to death.
Service
(sports) The act of initially starting, or serving, the ball in play in tennis, volleyball, and other games.
The player had four service faults in the set.
Work
To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort
Worked her way to the top.
Worked his passage on the ship.
Service
A religious rite or ritual.
The funeral service was touching.
Work
(Informal) To arrange or contrive. Often used with it
Worked it so that her weekends are free.
Service
(legal) The serving, or delivery, of a summons or writ.
The service happened yesterday.
Work
To make productive; cultivate
Work a farm.
Service
A taxi shared among unrelated passengers, each of whom pays part of the fare; often, it has a fixed route between cities.
Work
To cause to work
Works his laborers hard.
Service
A musical composition for use in churches.
Work
To excite or provoke
Worked the mob into a frenzy.
Service
(obsolete) Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed.
Work
To gratify, cajole, or enchant artfully, especially for the purpose of influencing
The politician worked the crowd. The comedian worked the room with flawless rhythm.
Service
(nautical) The materials used for serving a rope, etc., such as spun yarn and small lines.
Work
To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit
Learned how to work the system.
Worked his relatives for sympathy.
Service
Access to resources such as hotel rooms and web-based videos without transfer of the resources' ownership.
Work
To carry on an operation or function in or through
The agent who works that area.
Working the phones for donations.
Service
Service tree.
Work
To ferment (liquor, for example).
Service
The sorb; the fruit of this tree.
Work
Employment.
Service
(transitive) To serve.
They service the customer base.
Work
Labour, occupation, job.
My work involves a lot of travel.
Service
(transitive) To perform maintenance.
He is going to service the car.
Work
The place where one is employed.
He hasn’t come home yet; he’s still at work.
Service
To attack.
To service a target; target servicing
Work
(by extension) One's employer.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
Service
A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and P. torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries.
Work
(dated) A factory; a works.
Service
The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love.
Madam, I entreat true peace of you, Which I will purchase with my duteous service.
God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms.
Work
Effort.
Service
The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office.
I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows.
This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King Charles.
To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will understake it if it be not also a service of honor?
Work
Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Service
Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service.
The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law.
Work
Sustained human effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
Service
Hence, a musical composition for use in churches.
Work
Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
Service
Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier.
When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier.
Work
(physics) A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
Service
Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail.
The stork's plea, when taken in a net, was the service she did in picking up venomous creatures.
Work
A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process.
Service
Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed.
Work
(heading) Product; the result of effort.
Service
The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass.
There was no extraordinary service seen on the board.
Work
The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
Service
The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subpŒna or an attachment.
Work
Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
Service
The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.
Work
(countable) A literary, artistic, or intellectual production.
It is a work of art.
The poetic works of Alexander Pope
Service
The act of serving the ball.
Work
(countable) A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
Service
Work done by one person or group that benefits another;
Budget separately for goods and services
Work
The staging of events to appear as real.
Service
A company or agency that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
Work
(mining) Ore before it is dressed.
Service
The act of public worship following prescribed rules;
The Sunday service
Work
The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
Service
An act of help or assistance;
He did them a service
Work
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
He’s working in a bar.
Service
Employment in or work for another;
He retired after 30 years of service
Work
Followed by in (or at, etc.) Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business).
I work in a national park
She works in the human resources department
He mostly works in logging, but sometimes works in carpentry
Service
A force that is a branch of the armed forces
Work
Followed by as. Said of one's job title
I work as a cleaner.
Service
The performance of duties by a waiter or servant;
That restaurant has excellent service
Work
Followed by for. Said of a company or individual who employs.
She works for Microsoft
He works for the president
Service
Periodic maintenance on a car or machine;
It was time for an overhaul on the tractor
Work
Followed by with. General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts
You work with computers
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs
Service
Tableware consisting of a complete set of articles (silver or dishware) for use at table
Work
(intransitive) To effect by gradual degrees;
To work into the earth
Service
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play;
His powerful serves won the game
Work
(transitive) To effect by gradual degrees.
He worked his way through the crowd
The dye worked its way through
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand
Service
The act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone;
He accepted service of the subpoena
Work
(transitive) To embroider with thread.
Service
Canadian writer (born in England) who wrote about life in the Yukon Territory (1874-1958)
Work
(transitive) To set into action.
He worked the levers.
Service
A means of serving;
Of no avail
There's no help for it
Work
(transitive) To cause to ferment.
Service
The act of mating by male animals;
The bull was worth good money in servicing fees
Work
(intransitive) To ferment.
Service
(law) the acts performed by an English feudal tenant for the benefit of his lord which formed the consideration for the property granted to him
Work
(transitive) To exhaust, by working.
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
Service
Be used by; as of a utility;
The sewage plant served the neighboring communities
The garage served to shelter his horses
Work
(transitive) To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
Service
Make fit for use;
Service my truck
The washing machine needs to be serviced
Work
(transitive) To operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
Service
Mate with;
Male animals serve the females for breeding purposes
Work
(transitive) To operate in or through; as, to work the phones.
Work
(transitive) To provoke or excite; to influence.
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
Work
(transitive) To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
Work
To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Work
(transitive) To cause to work.
He is working his servants hard.
Work
(intransitive) To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work;
My plan didn’t work
Work
To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
Work
(intransitive) To move in an agitated manner.
His fingers worked with tension.
A ship works in a heavy sea.
Work
(intransitive) To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily;
The soft metal works well
Work
To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
Work
To hurt; to ache.
Work
To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would never have thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
Work
Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor.
Man hath his daily work of body or mindAppointed.
Work
The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in handThat you yet know not of.
In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Work
That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
To leave no rubs or blotches in the work.
The work some praise,And some the architect.
Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements.
Work
Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery.
I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll have the work ta'en out,And give 't Iago.
Work
Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron works; locomotive works; gas works.
Work
Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
Break; twist.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness?
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you.
Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,Our life doth pass.
Work
Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
We bend to that the working of the heart.
Work
Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught.
She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him.
Work
To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded.
Work
To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea.
Confused with working sands and rolling waves.
Work
To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; - with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.
Till body up to spirit work, in boundsProportioned to each kind.
Work
To ferment, as a liquid.
The working of beer when the barm is put in.
Work
To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.
He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time.
Work
To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth.
Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
Work
To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stainsOf rushing torrents and descending rains,Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines,Till by degrees the floating mirror shines.
Work
To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
Work
To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
Work
To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
Knowledge in building and working ships.
Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve.
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,Where they were wont to do.
Work
To cause to ferment, as liquor.
Tears of joy for your returning spilt,Work out and expiate our former guilt.
The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,Works up more fire and color in their cheeks.
Work
Activity directed toward making or doing something;
She checked several points needing further work
Work
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
Work
The occupation for which you are paid;
He is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
Work
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
Work
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Work
A place where work is done;
He arrived at work early today
Work
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force;
Work equals force times distance
Work
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity;
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Work
Be employed;
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
Work
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
Work
Perform as expected when applied;
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
Work
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
Work
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Work
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Work
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty;
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
Work
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity;
Work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Work
Move in an agitated manner;
His fingers worked with tension
Work
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Work
Cause to work;
He is working his servants hard
Work
Prepare for crops;
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
Work
Behave in a certain way when handled;
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
Work
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Work
Operate in or through;
Work the phones
Work
Cause to operate or function;
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Work
Provoke or excite;
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Work
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence;
The political candidate worked the crowds
Work
Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work
Move into or onto;
Work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
Work
Make uniform;
Knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
Work
Use or manipulate to one's advantage;
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
Work
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
Did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
Work
Cause to undergo fermentation;
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Work
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Work
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion;
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Common Curiosities
Can work be fulfilling without involving service?
Yes, work can be fulfilling through personal achievement, creativity, problem-solving, and contributing to broader goals or innovations, even if it doesn't directly involve service.
What distinguishes work from service?
Work encompasses all tasks or activities for achieving goals, while service specifically focuses on activities that benefit others.
Can a job involve both work and service?
Yes, many jobs involve both elements, especially in professions aimed at helping or providing for others, such as healthcare, education, and public safety.
Is volunteer work considered service?
Yes, volunteer work is a form of service as it involves providing help or benefits to others without financial compensation.
How does society benefit from service?
Society benefits from service through improved well-being, support for the needy, stronger communities, and the fulfillment of public needs.
What roles do work and service play in personal development?
Both work and service contribute to personal development by enhancing skills, fostering empathy and social responsibility, and providing a sense of purpose.
Can service have economic benefits?
Yes, services, especially in professional sectors, contribute significantly to the economy by meeting public needs, creating jobs, and fostering a healthy society.
How do motivations for work and service differ?
Motivations for work can include financial gain, personal fulfillment, or ambition, whereas service is often motivated by altruism, ethical or societal obligations.
Why is service important in professional roles?
Service in professional roles is important for addressing the needs of individuals and communities, ensuring welfare, and fulfilling societal obligations.
How can individuals balance work and service in their lives?
Individuals can balance work and service by integrating service-oriented tasks into their careers, engaging in volunteer work, or choosing professions that blend both aspects.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
