work on

Apply effort toward

To work on something is to give it sustained effort or attention.

You might work on a project, work on your golf swing, or work on a relationship.

I'm still working on it means something isn't finished yet.

To work on someone is to try to persuade or influence them: She's been working on him to quit smoking.

Related

buildCreate a structure
fixRepair or solution
tackleGear or takedown
addressSpeak to formally
hammer outResolve through prolonged effort

refine · fine tune · improve · iterate · chip away · plug away · repair · develop · rough draft · troubleshoot · optimize · enhance · assignment · coax · persuade · smooth talk · twist arm · motivate

Categories

persuasion tacticscharm, butter up, flattery, flatter, coax
phrasal verbspick up, look at, put down, turn off, wait for
improvementget better, improvement, do better, enhance, make progress
GET TO meaningsarrive, reach, access, enter, come to

Opposites

attention and effort

work onignore

Refuse to notice

neglect · disregard · abandon · overlook · set aside

project progress

work onabandon

Leave behind permanently

give up on · quit · drop · walk away from · finish

completion state

work onfinish

Bring to completion

complete · wrap up · finalize · conclude · polish off

Family

Familiarity: Top 10,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G