inner workings

plural noun

: the parts (of something) that are only known by the people who work on it
He wanted to experience the inner workings of the political campaign.

Examples of inner workings in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The landmark trial, which began with jury selection on Oct. 8, has been a fascinating dive into the inner workings of state politics as well as Madigan’s vaunted political machine. Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025 In the film’s final act, Gerard Butler’s character ends up swindling the master swindler by joining his heist and discovering the true inner workings of a meticulous heist operation. Malik Peay, Essence, 17 Jan. 2025 The public legal battle has exposed the inner workings of the teams behind Hollywood stars with multiple lawsuits, all of which have accused publicists on both sides of wrongdoing. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025 The inner workings of octopus arms might seem a world away from everyday human life, but there’s a surprising amount of real-world utility to this research. Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for inner workings 

Dictionary Entries Near inner workings

Cite this Entry

“Inner workings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inner%20workings. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!