worked out

verb

past tense of work out
1
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning by putting our heads together, we were able to work out the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in developed
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort worked out a compromise between the warring factions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in succeeded
to turn out as planned or desired our plans for a ski vacation just didn't work out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in calculated
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations after working out the cost of a college education, we've decided that it's never too early to start saving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of worked out Joining the Chiefs’ practice squad According to McDowell, the Chiefs also worked out kickers Ben Sauls and Harrison Mevis this week before ultimately deciding to sign Tucker. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026 Tucker worked out for the Jets before this season but did not sign with them. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Boise plans to work with the health district to enact the plan, according to city spokesperson Maria Ortega, though specifics are still being worked out. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026 That would have worked out fine when Fochesato tried redeeming his Timeless Ticket for a potential World Series game in 2018, when the Brewers reached the NL Championship Series. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Obviously, the whole music thing worked out for the Hot 100-topping, Grammy- and Tony-winning singer-songwriter who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025. — Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026 But my rogue, DIY, quick-start method hasn’t always worked out in my favor. — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 Kevin Mannix worked out of the San Francisco Police Department’s Taraval Station for 27 years before retiring, according to the association in June 2018. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Many players who were banged up in Sunday’s game were limited or simply worked out on the side of drills. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worked out
  1. solved
  2. developed
  3. succeeded
  4. calculated
  5. answered
  6. forged
  7. went
  8. figured
Verb
  • The crows solved the task the same way primates do, using the same mathematical logic despite having a very different brain structure.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • So there’s a huge amount of that which was solved with lots of different trickery, and then some VFX.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of solved
Verb
  • By controlling how densely cancer-targeting proteins are displayed on the virus, the team developed vaccine particles that significantly reduced tumor development in mice.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Tools like Google’s AP2, Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol and Mastercard’s Agent Pay are being developed to address various parts of the process, things like documenting customer intent and verifying legitimate agents.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of developed
Verb
  • He was reelected four years later and was succeeded by one of his cabinet ministers, Dilma Rousseff, in 2010.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • He was reelected four years later and was succeeded by one of his Cabinet ministers, Dilma Rousseff, in 2010.
    — Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of succeeded
Verb
  • When injection began in 2008, engineers had calculated the site would have an 18-year capacity.
    — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The payment screen indicated that tips were calculated after tax and before discounts, according to the video.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of calculated
Verb
  • Purdue cut its deficit to 10 with a three-point play from former UConn target Caden Pierce three minutes into the second half, but Demary answered with his own physical finish, plus a free throw, at the other end.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • For about 30 minutes, Stacy Garrity answered every question KDKA-TV's Josh Taylor asked her about her campaign for governor, including one concerning a political ad about incumbent Josh Shapiro.
    — Josh Taylor, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of answered
Verb
  • During the ’50s, Zeno forged a connection with André Breton, a cofounder of Surrealism, and exhibited alongside the movement’s adherents in Europe.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Concurrently with these board appointments, NFMLA has forged a new collaboration with the Sharjah Intl.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of forged
Verb
  • The company generated $70 billion in free cash flow in the first half of this year, while AMD totaled just over $4 billion and Google parent Alphabet went cash flow negative in the second quarter to fund its buildout.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Napoli went ahead again in the 83rd minute thanks to a second from McTominay — who also scored twice in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of went
Verb
  • At the beginning of Fatherland, no one—not even the aged Mann, played here in a quietly extraordinary performance by Hanns Zischler—has figured that out.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Knowing Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ strong affinity for Bamford’s comedy, Apatow figured that would happen.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of figured

Browse Nearby Words

worked (on)
worked out
worked over
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worked out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worked%20out. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wraith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All