Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

work the room

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.29 in modern English

Syllables: work the -room
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.

verb

To interact with one's audience, taking cues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.

Example Sentences

"As a campaigning politician, he really knew how to shake hands, kiss babies, and work the room."
"In show business parlance, Miss Hudson knows how to "work the room." Her comic turns are as rooted in vaudeville as her high-style wit is straight out of the smart supper club circuit."

Inflected Forms

works the room (present, singular) working the room (participle, present) worked the room (participle, past) worked the room (past)

Phrases

meet-and-greet read the room

Frequently Paired Words

meet-and-greet read the room

Synonyms

work the crowd work the line work the bar work the audience

Questions

What does work the room mean?: To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.

How to pronounce work the room

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “work the room”.
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Repeat and practice — Say “work the room” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.