work out

British  

verb

1. (tr) to achieve or accomplish by effort

2. (tr) to solve or find out by reasoning or calculation

   to work out an answer

   to work out a sum

3. (tr) to devise or formulate

   to work out a plan

4. (intr) to prove satisfactory or effective

   did your plan work out?

5. (intr) to happen as specified

   it all worked out well

6. (intr) to take part in physical exercise, as in training

7. (tr) to remove all the mineral in (a mine, body of ore, etc) that can be profitably exploited

8. (intr; often foll by to or at) to reach a total

   your bill works out at a pound

9. informal (tr) to understand the real nature of

   I shall never work you out

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noun

1. a session of physical exercise, esp for training or practice

work out Idioms  

1. Accomplish by work or effort, as in I think we can work out a solution to this problem . [1500s] For work out all right , see turn out all right .

2. Find a solution for, solve, as in They hoped to work out their personal differences , or Can you help me work out this equation? [Mid-1800s]

3. Formulate or develop, as in We were told to work out a new plan , or He's very good at working out complicated plots . [Early 1800s]

4. Discharge a debt by working instead of paying money, as in She promised she'd work out the rest of the rent by baby-sitting for them . [Second half of 1600s]

5. Prove effective or successful, as in I wonder if their marriage will work out .

6. Have a specific result, add up, as in It worked out that she was able to go to the party after all , or The total works out to more than a million . [Late 1800s]

7. Engage in strenuous exercise for physical conditioning, as in He works out with weights every other day . [1920s]

8. Exhaust a resource, such as a mine, as in This mine has been completely worked out . [Mid-1500s]

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Example Sentences

At the Anytime Fitness, general manager DeMarco Majors told Hyman’s campaign manager that a couple — both transgender women — were there to work out.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Me: In the middle of a work out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

At the minute, we all have a meter somewhere in the house which needs to be checked manually to help work out our electricity bill.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

The layoffs work out to about 8,000 people based on the company’s latest head count of 78,865 as of Dec. 31.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

“I’m just saying, that girl gives away forgiveness like it’s candy, then she comes over here licking her wounds when things don’t work out the way she wants. If it were me, I’d...”

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

Related Words

• accomplish
• achieve
• arrange
• come out
• complete
• develop
• devise
• figure out
• fix
• form
• formulate
• handle
• happen
• resolve
• win