workout

1 of 2

noun

work·​out ˈwərk-ˌau̇t 

1

: a practice or exercise to test or improve one's fitness for athletic competition, ability, or performance

2

: a test of one's ability, capacity, stamina, or suitability

3

: an undertaking or plan intended to resolve a problem of indebtedness especially in lieu of bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings

work out

2 of 2

verb

worked out; working out; works out

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring about by labor and exertion

work out your own salvation

—Philippians 2:12 (King James Version)

b

: to solve (something, such as a problem) by a process of reasoning or calculation

c

: to devise, arrange, or achieve by resolving difficulties

after many years of wrangling, worked out a definite agreement

—A. A. Butkus

d

: develop

the final situation is not worked out with psychological profundity

—Leslie Rees

2

: to discharge (a debt) by labor

3

: to exhaust (something, such as a mine) by working

intransitive verb

1

a

: to prove effective, practicable, or suitable

how this will actually work out I don't know

—Milton Kotler

b

: to amount to a total or calculated figure

—used with at or to

2

: to engage in a workout

works out regularly at the gym

Synonyms

Noun

• drill
• exercise
• practice
• practise
• routine
• training

Verb

• answer
• break
• crack
• dope (out)
• figure out
• puzzle (out)
• resolve
• riddle (out)
• solve
• unravel
• unriddle
• work

Examples of workout in a Sentence

Noun

The team had a good workout at practice today.

Her workout includes running on the treadmill and lifting weights.

Verb

by putting our heads together, we were able to work out the problem

worked out a compromise between the warring factions

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And some research suggests your next workout might go better, Dr. Rubin says. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024

These headphones aren’t ideal for vigorous workouts but provide comfort and stability during low-impact activities like Pilates and weight lifting. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

Taylor works out of a squat, grayish building on a residential street near the railroad tracks. —Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024

Disagreements can usually be worked out, and a few words can matter and help with taxes later. —Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1534, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

workout

1 of 2 noun

work·​out ˈwər-ˌkau̇t 

: a practice or exercise to test or improve one's fitness especially in athletics

work out

2 of 2 verb

ˌwər-ˈkau̇t,

ˈwər-

1

: to bring about by effort or by clearing up difficulties

2

a

: solve

work out a math problem

b

: develop sense 2

work out a plan

3

: to be successful

our plans for reorganization worked out

4

: to perform athletic exercises to improve one's fitness

working out at the gym

Legal Definition

workout

noun

work·​out

: an undertaking or plan intended to resolve a problem of indebtedness especially in lieu of bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings