workout
workout — noun
1. a stretch of time during which you move your body vigorously — by running, lifti
a stretch of time during which you move your body vigorously — by running, lifting weights, doing exercises — to stay healthy or get fitter.
Sivan does a twenty-minute yoga and stretching workout every morning before heading to the office.
collocation: do + a workout
After the workout, Yara's arms were sore but she felt great.
post-workout result
Harper joined a gym and goes to a group workout three times a week.
collocation: go to + a workout
After each workout, Imani jots down how many reps she managed.
temporal phrase: after each workout
Salma closes her laptop and heads to the garage for an evening workout.
collocation: for + workout
- intense workout
- daily workout
- full-body workout
- home workout
- morning workout
- exercise session
more general; any type of physical activity
- training session
suggests a structured plan toward a goal
- gym session
informal; specifically at a gym
Grammar Patterns
have/get/do + a workout
workout session
Usage Note
Typically used with do, have, get, or go to. The phrase 'get a workout' can also be used figuratively (e.g., 'my brain got a workout').
Common Mistakes
workout — verb
1. to do physical activities such as lifting weights, running, or stretching in ord
to do physical activities such as lifting weights, running, or stretching in order to stay healthy or become stronger.
Sivan works out at the community gym three days a week.
pattern: work out + at [place]
After Esteban started working out three times a week, he noticed he could climb stairs without getting winded.
pattern: start + working out + frequency
The cycling team works out together on the track every Saturday morning.
group subject
Lakan works out at six in the morning, finishing his run just as the sun rises over the park.
pattern: work out + time expression
- work out at the gym
- work out regularly
- work out together
- work out at home
Grammar Patterns
[person] + work out
Usage Note
Intransitive only. Unlike the noun form, which is written as one word (workout), this verb sense is almost always written as two separate words: work out. However, the source lists it under 'workout' as a single-word verb entry.
Common Mistakes
2. to find the answer to a problem, puzzle, or mathematical question by thinking ca
to find the answer to a problem, puzzle, or mathematical question by thinking carefully or calculating.
Astrid sat at her desk and worked out the maths problem step by step.
typical object: problem / calculation
Can you work out how much the tickets will cost for all five of us?
wh-clause after work out
Vivek worked out the total cost by adding up each item on the shopping list.
pattern: work out + [result] by [method]
Sophia worked out how much paint to buy by measuring the walls.
wh-clause after work out
Feng worked out what was causing the strange noise in the engine.
wh-clause: what + -ing form
- figure out
more informal; can involve trial and error
- solve
more formal; direct synonym
- calculate
limited to numerical or mathematical contexts
Grammar Patterns
work out + [problem / calculation / answer]
Usage Note
Commonly followed by a wh-clause (what, how, whether, where) or a noun phrase. Closely related to figure out but work out suggests more systematic reasoning.
Common Mistakes
3. to find a way through practical or logistical difficulties in an existing plan o
to find a way through practical or logistical difficulties in an existing plan or arrangement, especially by sorting out uncertain or blocked details.
Hana and her team worked out the travel plans for the conference.
typical object: plans / arrangements
We have not worked out who will pick up the keys from the agent yet.
wh-clause object
Evelyn worked out the seating chart so no one had to sit alone.
The committee still needs to work out the schedule for next month's event.
Élise worked out a fair way to split the group project tasks.
Grammar Patterns
work out + [details / arrangements / logistics]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 5 (ACHIEVE BY EFFORT): sense 5 focuses on reaching an agreement through negotiation; this sense focuses on resolving practical or logistical obstacles. Also distinguish from sense 6 (DEVELOP A PLAN): sense 6 is about creating something new from scratch through careful thought; this sense is about finding solutions to difficulties in existing arrangements.
4. of a plan, situation, or relationship — to have a successful result or to end in
of a plan, situation, or relationship — to have a successful result or to end in a good way, especially after some uncertainty.
The family's plan to move abroad worked out better than they expected.
subject = a plan
The experiment did not work out the way the scientists had hoped.
negative form
Their partnership at the restaurant worked out well for both of them.
Eliska's plan to open a bakery in the village worked out beautifully.
- work out well
- work out fine
- work out in the end
- not work out
Grammar Patterns
[something] + work out
Usage Note
Intransitive only — no object. The subject is typically an abstract plan, method, arrangement, or relationship. Often used with adverbs like well, badly, perfectly, or with negative forms.
Common Mistakes
5. to succeed in producing something desired — such as a deal, an agreement, or a s
to succeed in producing something desired — such as a deal, an agreement, or a settlement — through hard work and negotiation.
Imran and his business partner worked out a fair deal after weeks of talking.
typical object: deal / agreement
The two sides sat down to try to work out their differences.
The two departments worked out a cost-sharing agreement for the new software licence.
typical object: agreement
Nala worked out a payment plan with the landlord to cover the back rent.
collocation: work out a plan
- negotiate
focuses on the discussion process; more formal
- hammer out
informal; suggests difficulty and persistence
Grammar Patterns
work out + [something abstract]
Usage Note
Object is always something abstract (a compromise, an arrangement, terms). Not used with concrete objects like furniture or food.
6. to create or improve a plan, system, or idea through careful thought and repeate
to create or improve a plan, system, or idea through careful thought and repeated effort over time.
Niran worked out a new marketing strategy for the small coffee shop.
typical object: plan / strategy / system
João spent months working out a detailed budget for the charity project.
A team of volunteers worked out a recycling system for the school campus.
typical object: system
A librarian worked out a better filing system that saved everyone time.
Grammar Patterns
work out + [plan / system / strategy / idea]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (RESOLVE DIFFICULTIES): sense 3 is about arranging existing details; this sense is about developing something new from scratch or substantially improving it.
7. to reach a particular figure after adding, dividing, or sharing costs — when the
to reach a particular figure after adding, dividing, or sharing costs — when the total finally becomes clear after calculation.
The rent works out at eight hundred dollars a month for each person.
pattern: work out at + [amount]
After tax and tips, the dinner bill worked out to sixty dollars.
pattern: work out to + [amount]
The train fare works out cheaper if you buy a weekly pass.
The holiday worked out at about two thousand dollars for four nights.
- work out at
- work out to
- work out cheaper
- work out more expensive
Grammar Patterns
work out + at/to + [amount]
Usage Note
Followed by at + [amount/number/price] or to + [total]. The subject is the cost, total, or share. Also common with a comparative adjective as in 'works out cheaper / more expensive'.
Word family
- work outverbB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
While all four words involve physical activity, their scope differs. Exercise is the broadest term — it covers any movement done to stay healthy, from walking to stretching to weightlifting. A workout is more specific: it refers to a single, structured session of exercise, often with a clear goal in mind. Training implies a regular, planned programme aimed at improving performance for a sport or competition, so it carries a stronger sense of purpose and progression. Gym session is informal and simply refers to working out at a gym — it doesn't say anything about the type of activity. For example: 'Walking the dog is good exercise, but it is not a real workout'; 'Her training for the marathon includes three gym sessions per week.'
Common collocations
Etymology
Workout is a compound of work (from Old English weorc, meaning 'effort or labour') and out (from Old English ūt, meaning 'outside, to the end'). The noun form was first recorded in the early 20th century in the context of physical training. The verb form work out gradually developed various figurative meanings — solving, planning, succeeding — that emerged from the core idea of 'working something through to the end.'