work out

W

work out (phrasal verb)
/ˈwɜːk aʊt/

Meanings

• To solve a problem or difficulty.
• To exercise physically for fitness or health.
• To progress or develop successfully.
• To calculate or figure something.
• To plan or arrange details carefully.
• To end or result in a certain way.

Synonyms: solve; figure out; calculate; resolve; exercise; train; plan; succeed.

Example Sentences

1. She finally managed to work out the answer to the puzzle.
2. He goes to the gym every morning to work out before work.
3. Their new business plan didn’t work out as expected.
4. I need to work out how much money we’ll need for the trip.
5. They tried to work out the schedule so everyone could attend.
6. Things didn’t work out between them, and they decided to separate.

Origin and History

The phrase “work out” emerged as a phrasal verb in English, combining the verb “work,” denoting labor or effort, with the adverb “out,” implying completion or exhaustion.

Etymologically, it conveys the idea of expending energy to achieve a result, drawing from the broader semantic field of physical or mental exertion. Over time, this construction evolved to encompass various nuances, from resolving problems through calculation to realizing outcomes via persistent application. The core concept reflects a metaphorical extension of manual labor, where “working out” something parallels extracting value or resolution from raw effort, akin to refining material through processing.

Historical Development

Throughout its history, “work out” has adapted to cultural and contextual shifts, manifesting in multiple idiomatic senses. Initially tied to intellectual or practical endeavors, such as devising solutions or accomplishing tasks, it later incorporated physical connotations in the nineteenth century.

By the early twentieth century, particularly within athletic contexts like boxing, it denoted rigorous training sessions aimed at honing skills and endurance. This evolution mirrors broader societal changes, including the rise of organized sports and fitness culture, where the phrase shifted from abstract problem-solving to tangible bodily discipline. Subsequent usages in everyday language solidified its versatility, applying to personal relationships, plans, or exercises that succeed or fail based on invested effort.

Theories and Beliefs

Scholars and linguists propose several theories regarding the phrase’s deeper origins and interpretive layers.

One prevalent view posits a mathematical foundation, where “working out” a sum or equation involves step-by-step computation to yield a precise outcome, influencing its application to logical puzzles or negotiations.

Another perspective emphasizes a labor-centric belief, rooted in agrarian or artisanal traditions, suggesting that success emerges from fully expending resources until completion. In athletic interpretations, particularly from combat sports, it is seen as embodying the exhaustion of physical limits to build resilience, a notion reinforced by early trainers who viewed practice as “working out” flaws in technique.

These theories collectively underscore a unifying belief in effort as the mechanism for transformation, whether intellectual, practical, or corporeal, though debates persist on whether the physical sense directly derived from earlier verbal usages or independently arose in sporting jargon.

Country of Origin

The phrase first appeared in England, emerging within the linguistic milieu of early modern English literature and religious texts. Its initial documented forms align with the development of vernacular translations and writings during the Tudor period, reflecting the nation’s evolving lexicon influenced by Reformation-era scholarship and everyday discourse. This English provenance provided the foundation for its dissemination to other English-speaking regions, particularly through colonial and literary exchanges.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest printed instance of the phrase “work out” in a form resonant with its modern idiomatic sense occurs in the 1534 edition of the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale. In this work, the passage from Philippians 2:12 reads:

“Worke out your owne salvacion with feare and tremblyng.”

Here, the expression illustrates the notion of achieving spiritual fulfillment through diligent personal effort, establishing a precedent for the phrase’s connotation of labor leading to realization. Tyndale’s translation, published amid the religious upheavals of the sixteenth century, marked a pivotal moment in rendering biblical concepts into accessible English prose.

Health, Phrasal Verbs, Success