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

For the Bucs, the offseason didn’t just start with a workout. —Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026

Online, Marshall has over 10 million followers across his TikTok, Instagram and YouTube channels for his popular fitness content and dance-style workouts. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026

Verb

In a state that has seen insurance premiums double since 2020, the savings would work out to around a 20% reduction, based on what the Colorado Division of Insurance estimates as an average premium of $4,200 per home. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026

Sox reliever Bryan Hudson made sure that didn’t happen, striking out Soderstrom swinging to work out of the jam. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 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