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

worked out an agreement

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 of workout

Noun

• exercise
• practice

Verb

• solve
• answer
• unravel
• resolve

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

Mitchell has adjusted his offseason workouts to prepare for those open catch-and-shoot opportunities created by Antetokounmpo’s drives to the basket. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Fitbit Smartwatch Deal The Fitbit Versa 4 optimizes your wellness goals with a personalized Daily Readiness Score to track workout intensity via Active Zone Minutes. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026

Verb

Gallic worked out with the New York Giants in April and is scheduled to attend free-agent camps later this month. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026

Compare that with paying $30 to $60 per visit at a cold plunge or sauna studio three times a week, which works out to $4,500 to $9,000 a year, or $45,000 to $90,000 over a decade. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1534, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for workout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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