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
worked out an agreement
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
Synonyms of workout
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
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Chinander said scouts were impressed with Fely’s three-cone and short shuttle workouts, but those times were not provided to the media.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That works out to an astronaut mission to the orbiting lab about every six years at current flight rates.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for workout
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show current usage.
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Noun
Earlier this year, a lower back muscle spasm from a workout forced him to withdraw from The Arnold Palmer Invitational and raised concerns over his participating in The Players Championship.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Chinander said scouts were impressed with Fely’s three-cone and short shuttle workouts, but those times were not provided to the media.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
After all, everything has worked out so far.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That works out to an astronaut mission to the orbiting lab about every six years at current flight rates.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for workout
Cite this Entry
“Workout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workout. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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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