work out

/ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/

//ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"work-out" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“work out” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To calculate.

Key facts for work out
PropertyValue
Headwordwork out
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “work out” sits in English frequency

work out falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for work out is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

work out has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct English form is work out, spelled W-O-R-K- -O-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To calculate.
  2. 2
    To make sense of.
  3. 3
    To decide.
  4. 4
    To bring about or cause to happen by work or effort.
  5. 5
    To resolve; to find a solution for.
  6. 6
    To develop or devise in detail; to elaborate.
  7. 7
    To smooth or perfect.
  8. 8
    To conclude with the correct solution.
  9. 9
    To succeed; to result in a satisfactory situation.
  10. 10
    To exercise, especially by lifting weights.
  11. 11
    To strengthen a part of one’s body by exercise.
  12. 12
    To earn a wage working away from one's farm.
  13. 13
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see work, out.
  14. 14
    To remove all the mineral that can be profitably exploited.

This word in other languages

calcular(Español)calculer(Français)ausrechnen(Deutsch)calcular(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "work out"?
"work out" is spelled W-O-R-K- -O-U-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/.
What does "work out" mean?
As a verb, "work out" means: To calculate.
How do you pronounce "work out"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "work out" is /ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "work out" come from?
"work out" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “work out”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is W-O-R-K- -O-U-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list