The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EFFICIENT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
E
F
F
I
C
I
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result EFFICIENT
- Smart little Euphemia collects just over 100 books
- Organised moving fifteen to room 101
- Fine fellow in charge that is in hospital department working well
- Capable, fifteen working around Channel Islands
- Competent, constant company has to quit
- Fifteen spread out to flank hundred and one? Well-organised
- Constant, not firm but effective
- In effect, one changes enough to become capable
- Fence I fit clumsily is working competently
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "working well" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case working well = efficient.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EFFICIENT mean?
EFFICIENT noun- A cause; something that causes an effect
- Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy
- Expressing the proportion of consumed energy that was successfully used in a process; the ratio of useful output to total input
- Causing effects, producing results; bringing into being; initiating change (rare except in philosophical and legal expression efficient cause = causative factor or agent)
- (old use) effective