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
worked out; working out; works out
1
a
: to bring about by labor and exertion
work out your own salvation—
Philippians 2:12 (King James Version)
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
A. A. Butkus
d
: develop
the final situation is not worked out with psychological profundity—Leslie Rees
Leslie Rees2
: to discharge (a debt) by labor
3
: to exhaust (something, such as a mine) by working
1
a
: to prove effective, practicable, or suitable
how this will actually work out I don't know—Milton Kotler
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
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
Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Guests can participate in various Zumba classes, including sessions led by Zumba creator Beto Perez, along with other workout programs.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 26 June 2025
However, the partnership with McDonald’s apparently wasn’t working out.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for workout
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Noun
As the losses mounted, Parker prepared for a return and called Agler to arrange a closed workout.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Guests can participate in various Zumba classes, including sessions led by Zumba creator Beto Perez, along with other workout programs.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
This couldn’t have worked out much better for San Antonio.
15.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 26 June 2025
However, the partnership with McDonald’s apparently wasn’t working out.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for workout
Cite this Entry
“Workout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workout. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 verbˌwər-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
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