wɜːrk aʊt
- Base verb:
- work
- Particle:
- out
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "work out" mean?
- To exercise to improve fitness
- To solve a problem or find an answer
- To develop or progress successfully
- To calculate an amount
- To understand someone or something
Examples
- I work out at the gym three times a week.
- I can't work out how to use this new software.
- Don't worry; everything will work out in the end.
- Let me work out how much we owe.
- I just can't work him out - he's so unpredictable!
How to use it
'Workout' (noun) refers to a session of physical exercise. 'Work out' for fitness is extremely common in North America. 'Things will work out' is an optimistic expression.
Word order
For solving/calculating: separable ('work the problem out'). For exercising: not separable. For succeeding: not separable ('It worked out').
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related phrasal verbs
- work on
To spend time and effort trying to improve or complete something
- work up
To develop or create something gradually
- work through
To deal with a problem or difficult situation by discussing or thinking about it
- work off
To get rid of something unwanted by working or exercising
- get out
To leave a place, room, or vehicle
- turn out
To have a particular result or end in a certain way
Use it in a practice answer
Try "work out" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.