worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "worked" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it as a verb to suggest that someone performed a task or action. Example: I worked on my project all night to get it finished in time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I suppose I appealed more to the working-class man, the people who worked in the meat works and the factories," he said in 2007, after announcing his intention to leave New Zealand to play overseas.

The Guardian - Sport

Polite, popular, hard working and with an easy-going manner, he has worked the brethren assiduously for 20 years as an activist in Unison.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I come from a working class background, it wasn't easy for me at all, backgrounded hard.

The Guardian - Sport

And it worked.

The New York Times - Arts

Nothing worked.

The New York Times

The strategy seems to have worked.

The New York Times - Arts

"I've worked multiple disasters, but I've never worked an ice storm with a forecast like this.

The Guardian

Prior to joining the Guardian, Katharine worked at the Sunday Times in London.

The Guardian

The tactic worked.

The New York Times

Director Sarah Maldoror studied in Moscow, worked on the classic The Battle of Algiers, then grabbed African cinema by the scruff of the neck, forcing it to engage with feminism, loss and movie aesthetics.

The Guardian - Film

My dad worked at the Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) factory.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worked" to describe general actions and tasks completed in the past. For clarity, specify the context: "worked on a project", "worked at a company", or "worked effectively".

Common error

Avoid using "work" instead of "worked" when referring to past actions. Ensure you are using the correct tense to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "worked" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "work". It describes an action that was completed in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of "worked" used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

99%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "worked" is the past tense of "work" and is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its frequent use in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. It functions to convey completed actions or tasks in the past, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Related phrases include "functioned" and "operated", offering subtle variations in meaning. Ensure correct tense usage to avoid common grammatical errors. Source quality is high, with frequent occurrences in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

functioned

Replaces "worked" by emphasizing the operational aspect or purpose of something.

operated

Similar to "worked", but often used in the context of machines or systems.

performed

Focuses on the execution of a task or duty.

labored

Implies strenuous or diligent effort, differing from the neutral tone of "worked".

achieved

Suggests successful completion or attainment, adding a sense of accomplishment.

undertook

Implies starting or engaging in a task, which can differ from the completion implied by "worked".

endeavored

Similar to "tried", but with a sense of earnest or determined effort.

exerted oneself

Emphasizes the effort put into the work, diverging from the neutrality of "worked".

toiled

Similar to "labored" but even stronger emphasis on sustained and arduous work.

was employed

This alternative phrase focuses on the state of being hired and performing duties.

FAQs

How can I use "worked" in a sentence?

You can use "worked" to describe past actions, such as "I "worked on" the project all day" or "She "worked at" the company for five years".

What is a synonym for "worked"?

Synonyms for "worked" include "functioned", "operated", and "performed", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I work" instead of "I worked" when referring to a past job?

No, use "I "worked"" to describe a past job. "I work" indicates a present job or general activity.

What's the difference between "worked" and "was employed"?

"Worked" describes the action of performing a task or job, while "was employed" refers to the state of being hired and performing duties. You could say, "She "worked" diligently while she "was employed" at the firm".