Here are 30 phrasal verbs with **work**, including their **base meaning**, **extended meaning**, and **two example sentences** for each:
1. **work out** – **to solve or find a solution**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to perform or engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “out” adds the sense of completing a solution or understanding something.
• _We need to work out the details of the plan._
• _She worked out the math problem quickly._
2. **work on** – **to focus on or improve something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to perform or engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “on” suggests a focus or attention to a specific task or improvement.
• _He’s working on his presentation for tomorrow._
• _She needs to work on her communication skills._
3. **work up** – **to develop or build up**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “up” adds the sense of increasing or building something progressively.
• _She worked up the courage to speak in front of the class._
• _He worked up an appetite after jogging for an hour._
4. **work through** – **to deal with or resolve something step by step**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “through” adds the sense of proceeding methodically through a challenge.
• _We worked through the problem until we found a solution._
• _He’s working through some personal issues._
5. **work in** – **to incorporate or include something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “in” adds the sense of fitting something into a plan or schedule.
• _I’ll work in your suggestion during the next meeting._
• _Can we work in a quick coffee break before the meeting?_
6. **work out of** – **to operate or be based in a particular place**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to perform tasks.”
**Extended meaning:** “out of” adds the sense of having a place or location as a base of operations.
• _She works out of the London office._
• _They work out of a small studio downtown._
7. **work off** – **to get rid of by physical effort**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “off” adds the sense of using physical effort to reduce or eliminate something.
• _He worked off his stress by going for a run._
• _You need to work off those extra calories after dinner._
8. **work towards** – **to make progress toward a goal**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “towards” adds the sense of aiming at a particular objective or goal.
• _She’s working towards earning her degree._
• _They’re working towards a common goal in the project._
9. **work out for** – **to have a favorable result or outcome**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “out for” adds the sense of something resulting in a positive outcome for someone.
• _I hope everything works out for you in the end._
• _It worked out for him after he made a new plan._
10. **work over** – **to repeat or review something thoroughly**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “over” adds the sense of going through something again for better understanding.
• _We need to work over these plans before we submit them._
• _He worked over the data to find the mistake._
11. **work along** – **to progress steadily**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “along” adds the sense of making slow but steady progress.
• _The project is working along, and we should finish soon._
• _She’s working along nicely on her assignment._
12. **work at** – **to put effort into improving something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “at” adds the sense of focusing effort to improve or achieve something.
• _He’s working at becoming a better writer._
• _She works at her craft every day._
13. **work under** – **to work as a subordinate or under someone’s supervision**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to perform tasks.”
**Extended meaning:** “under” adds the sense of being under someone’s control or authority.
• _She works under a great supervisor who helps her a lot._
• _He worked under tough conditions to meet the deadline._
14. **work around** – **to find a way to overcome or bypass a problem**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “around” adds the sense of navigating or avoiding a difficulty.
• _We need to work around the schedule conflicts._
• _He worked around the issue by using a different method._
15. **work through with** – **to collaborate with someone in resolving an issue**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “through with” adds the sense of working together with someone to solve a problem.
• _We worked through with the team to complete the project._
• _She worked through with her advisor to finalize her thesis._
16. **work against** – **to oppose or be in conflict with something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “against” adds the sense of working in opposition to someone or something.
• _He felt like the system was working against him._
• _The weather worked against our plans for the picnic._
17. **work together** – **to cooperate with others on a task**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “together” adds the sense of collaborating or cooperating with others.
• _They need to work together to finish the project._
• _We worked together to solve the problem._
18. **work in favor of** – **to act in support or advantage of something or someone**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “in favor of” adds the sense of working for the benefit of someone or something.
• _The changes worked in favor of the employees._
• _The new policy works in favor of students._
19. **work along with** – **to collaborate or progress alongside someone or something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “along with” adds the sense of working together or in parallel.
• _She worked along with her colleagues to finish the report._
• _He worked along with the new manager to streamline the process._
20. **work apart** – **to work independently or separately**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “apart” adds the sense of working separately or in isolation.
• _They worked apart on different aspects of the project._
• _The team worked apart but stayed connected through updates._
21. **work across** – **to work over different areas or regions**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “across” adds the sense of spanning multiple areas or departments.
• _She works across different teams in the company._
• _He’s worked across several countries during his career._
22. **work away at** – **to work persistently on something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “away at” adds the sense of persistent, continuous effort.
• _He’s been working away at his novel for years._
• _She worked away at the problem until she found a solution._
23. **work through for** – **to persevere or endure for a specific purpose or person**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “through for” adds the sense of continuing work for a goal or on behalf of someone.
• _He worked through for his family despite the challenges._
• _She worked through the pain for the sake of finishing the race._
24. **work against the clock** – **to work quickly in a limited time**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “against the clock” adds the sense of racing to finish something within a time limit.
• _We’re working against the clock to meet the deadline._
• _They had to work against the clock to complete the project._
25. **work ahead** – **to work in advance of a deadline or schedule**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “ahead” adds the sense of getting work done before the required time.
• *I worked ahead
so I could take time off next week.*
• _She worked ahead on her assignments to avoid last-minute stress._
26. **work up to** – **to gradually progress toward something**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “up to” adds the sense of building or preparing to reach a higher level or goal.
• _She’s working up to running a marathon._
• _He’s working up to a big promotion at work._
27. **work through on** – **to focus on solving something specific**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “through on” adds the sense of concentrating on a specific challenge until it’s resolved.
• _We worked through on the technical issues all night._
• _She’s working through on her thesis to get it finished on time._
28. **work back** – **to retrace steps or reverse progress**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “back” adds the sense of moving backward to fix something or understand previous steps.
• _We worked back from the problem to figure out what went wrong._
• _He worked back through the instructions to find the error._
29. **work out at** – **to calculate or total an amount**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “out at” adds the sense of arriving at a calculation or result.
• _The expenses worked out at $500 per person._
• _It worked out at 20 hours of overtime last month._
30. **work off on** – **to complete or settle by working**
**Base meaning:** “work” means “to engage in a task.”
**Extended meaning:** “off on” adds the sense of finishing or settling something by working on it.
• _He worked off his debt by doing extra shifts._
• _She worked off the project on the weekend to catch up._
These 30 phrasal verbs with **work** demonstrate how the meaning of “work” changes depending on the prepositions and adverbs used, giving flexibility to express different tasks and actions.