There is a diversity of approaches, methodologies and levels of analysis from economical, methodological, social and psychological different perspectives in the studies performed by the Social Sciences about the concept of "work".The transformation of the construct has evolved from the distinction between the concepts of" labor" and "work" to the consideration of a degrading , punishing or on the contrary a dignifying activity locating itself in a central spot in people's life.The revision in this article is about the phenomenon of "work" from an historical point of view finding definitions with the configuration of the concept from the Greco-Roman period to the decade of the seventies of the XX century.Constitutive conditions are highlighted of the configuration of the meaning such as the meaning of values , circumstances, context and socialization.Why people work and the importance of working are part of the meaning of "work" presented in this revision.