underwork
/ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈwɜː(ɹ)k/verb, noun
underwork is spelled U-N-D-E-R-W-O-R-K: 9 letters. As a verb, underwork means “To require too little work from; to work insufficiently” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in underwork?
| Letters | 9: U-N-D-E-R-W-O-R-K |
|---|---|
| In writing | too rare for the frequency list |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce underwork?
- /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈwɜː(ɹ)k/
As a noun (“Subordinate work; petty business”): /ˈʌndə(ɹ)ˌwɜː(ɹ)k/.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-underwork.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of underwork
- underworks present, singular, he/she/it
- underworking participle, present
- underworked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does underwork mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To require too little work from; to work insufficiently.
- 2
obsoleteTo work or operate in secret or clandestinely.
- 3
To do less work than necessary (on).
to underwork a painting
- 4
To do work for inadequate payment.
- 5
To injure by working secretly; to destroy or overthrow by clandestine measure; to undermine.
- 6
To do similar work for a lesser price than; to undercut.
One mason may underwork another.
noun
- 1
Subordinate work; petty business.
- 2
An underneath structure, for example for physical support
the underwork of a road
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does underwork come from?
From under- + work.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).