work out

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

noun

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

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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

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

Example Sentences

There were also some kinks to work out in teaching, Weiss found.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They will work out how to make best use of AI driven digital technologies to support patient access, engagement and data collection.

Read more on BBC

After she stopped taking the pill, she started dealing with acne and inflammation despite working out frequently and eating healthy foods.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We took a little chance wheeling her back in three weeks and it worked out.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But many details are yet to be worked out on problems that have led tensions to flare.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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