woodwork

noun

wood·​work ˈwu̇d-ˌwərk 

1

: work made of wood

especially : interior fittings (such as moldings or stairways) of wood

2

: a place or state of concealment, seclusion, or anonymity

witnesses came out of the woodwork when a reward was offered

Examples of woodwork in a Sentence

We painted the walls white and the woodwork red.

The kick hit the woodwork.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the time ahead of Election Day dwindles, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and influential businesspeople have come out of the woodwork to throw their support behind one of the presidential candidates. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024

Both sides would hit the woodwork in injury time, but Thiago Motta was left lamenting the fact his side did not put the result beyond doubt following Vlahovic’s opener. —Adam Digby, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024

Madrid has not lost a league game this season but rode its luck at times against Sociedad, with the host hitting the woodwork three times during the match. —Ben Church, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024

Each of the 12 rooms is minimalist in style and features Balinese woodwork and plaster techniques and natural materials like ochre, brick, and travertine. —Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 27 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing woodwork

• come/crawl out of the woodwork
• fade into the woodwork
• into the woodwork

Kids Definition

woodwork

noun

wood·​work -ˌwərk 

: work made of wood

especially : interior fittings (as window frames or stairways) of wood