work out
phrasal verb·6 senses·particle out
Meanings
Solve a problem or calculate an answer
Why “out”? A problem, disagreement, or hard time continues until it is settled or ends.
“She worked out the cost before she bought the tickets.”
“Can you work out how many chairs we need?”
“I could not work it out, so I asked for help.”
“Leo worked out how to open the backup presentation on another office computer.”
Exercise to improve fitness
Why “out”? Something is used until nothing is left. Energy, supply, fire, and time all reach zero.
“He works out three times a week.”
“Mina works out before breakfast.”
End in a particular way, often successfully
“It all worked out in the end.”
“The plan worked out well.”
Plan or develop something carefully in detail
Why “out”? Something comes into the open. People can see it, know it, or understand it.
“Maya and Leo worked out a shopping route over coffee at the shopping centre cafe.”
“We need to work out a schedule for the project.”
“Maya and Leo worked out when to eat and leave for the club.”
“Maya and Leo worked out a schedule for the office project during the meeting.”
“Maya and Leo worked out the route to the train station before their weekend trip.”
Have a final cost or amount
“It works out at fifteen pounds each.”
“The recipe works out at six servings.”
Understand someone's motives or character
“I can't work him out.”
“I cannot work out why she left.”
Memory hook
The answer comes out as you work at the problem.
Common mistake
Let's work out it.
Let's work it out.
A pronoun goes between the verb and the particle: work it out.
Natural collocations
The word partners “work out” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“She worked out the cost before she bought the tickets.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
work off
A contrast learners often mix up
Use energy or lose weight through physical activity
work on
A contrast learners often mix up
Spend time and effort improving or making something
bear out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Provide evidence that confirms what someone has said
blow out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Extinguish a flame by blowing
break out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
(of war, fire or disease) Start suddenly; Escape from a locked or guarded place
bring out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Make a quality or feature more obvious; Publish or launch a new product; Cause a particular response or behaviour in someone; Take something out of a container or place to show it; Encourage a shy person to be more confident
burn out
Same out pattern: exhaustion
Become exhausted from overwork; (of a fire) Stop burning because there is no fuel left; (of an electrical device) Stop working because of overheating; Destroy a building or vehicle by fire
call out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Shout something loudly or summon services
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “work out” in Sink In
Drill “work out” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
