work at sth
— phrasal verb with work uk/wɜːk/us/wɝːk/verb
B2 to try hard to achieve something:
Most couples would agree that for a marriage to succeed, both parties have to work at it.
[ + -ing verb ] You need to work at improving your writing.
More examples
- I need to work at my piano playing.
- You'll never learn Spanish if you don't work at it.
- He's working at controlling his temper.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Trying and making an effort
- a blitz on sth idiom
- all-out
- assault
- attempt
- attempted
- bid
- crack
- go the extra mile idiom
- go to great lengths idiom
- God helps those who help themselves idiom
- grasp at sth
- grope
- push
- shoot
- stick
- strain every nerve idiom
- stretch a/the point idiom
- strive
- strove
- succeed
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