work on something
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
to make an effort to improve or create something
Literally: to labor on an object or task
Register: neutral
Examples
I'm working on my novel.
AI-drafted example auto-approved by rule (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Everyday learner phrase (CEFR B1); level cross-referenced from published learner lists. Definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-08-01; pending editor spot-check.
Common questions
What does “work on something” mean?
to make an effort to improve or create something Literally: to labor on an object or task
Is “work on something” formal or informal?
work on something is generally neutral.