Basic Details
Word: Worked
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Did a job or task that needed effort. It can also mean that something functioned properly or that a plan was successful. It is the past tense of work.
Synonyms: laboured, toiled, functioned
Antonyms: rested, failed
How to Spell Worked
Syllables: worked
Tricky part: After w, the ur sound is spelt or, so wurked and werked are wrong. The ed is said like t, but it is never written workt.
Watch out for: wurked, werked, workt
Memory tip: The or in work is the same or as in word, world and worm: after w, that sound is usually written or.
Idioms and Phrases
- worked like a charm: worked very well, exactly as hoped Example: "Dadi's ginger tea worked like a charm on my cold."
- get worked up: become very upset, angry or excited Example: "There is no need to get worked up over one low mark."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Appa worked late at the bank every evening in March.
Example 2: We worked in pairs to build a model of the solar system.
Example 3: The new water pump worked perfectly once the plumber fixed the pipe.
Fun Fact
The old past tense of work was wrought. It survives today in wrought iron, which means iron that has been worked by hammering.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt wrongly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. persevered 2. werked 3. acquired 4. abandoned
a) got or came to have something
b) left behind for good
c) did a task that needed effort
d) kept trying in spite of difficulty
Show answer
c) did a task that needed effort. Acquired, abandoned and persevered are all correct; werked should have the or of word.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
worcked
a) o
b) k
c) r
d) c
Show answer
d) c. After r the k sound is a plain k, as in fork and pork, so the c has no place here.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word worked as used in the sentence:
The old ceiling fan still worked, although it creaked at full speed.
a) failed
b) functioned
c) stopped
d) laboured
Show answer
b) functioned. Here worked tells us the fan was still running properly, not that it was doing hard labour.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which sentence uses worked to mean 'was successful'?
a) She worked the dough with her hands.
b) My uncle worked in Dubai for years.
c) The trick worked and the door opened.
d) We worked on the garden all day.
Show answer
c) The trick worked and the door opened.
2. After she had worked in the fields since sunrise, the farmer most likely felt ____.
a) tired
b) lazy
c) idle
d) rested
Show answer
a) tired
