work out

Meaning

'Work out' has two primary casual meanings: to exercise physically (like lifting weights or doing cardio), or to resolve a problem or find a solution. It can also mean that a situation ends with a successful result. It is highly versatile and used daily in informal contexts.

Examples

• I try to work out at the gym at least three times a week.

  I try to work out at the gym at least three times a week.

• Don't worry about the budget; I'm sure we can work something out.

  Don't worry about the budget; I'm sure we can work something out.

• Things didn't work out between them, so they decided to split up.

  Things didn't work out between them, so they decided to split up.

• I need to work out how much money we spent on this trip.

  I need to work out how much money we spent on this trip.

• If you stay positive, everything will work out in the end.

  If you stay positive, everything will work out in the end.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am going to work out my body today.

  ✓ I am going to work out today.

  When 'work out' means to exercise, it is usually intransitive (doesn't take an object). You don't 'work out your body'; you just 'work out'.

• ✗ I am going to the gym for making a work out.

  ✓ I am going to the gym to work out.

  'Work out' is a verb. If you want to use it as a noun, it is written as one word ('workout') and used with 'do' or 'have' (e.g., 'do a workout'), not 'make'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I usually ___ in the morning before going to the office.

  💡 exercise

  Show answer

  work out

• We need to ___ a way to reduce our monthly expenses.

  💡 find a solution or calculate

  Show answer

  work out