▸ work out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you work out a solution to a problem or mystery, you manage to find the solution by thinking or talking about it. □ [V P n] Negotiators are due to meet later today to work out a compromise. □ [V P wh] It took me some time to work out what was causing this. □ [V n P ] 'How will you contact me?'—'We haven't worked that out yet.' ● PHRASE If you have something all worked out , you have thought about it carefully, and know exactly what you are going to do or exactly what you want. □ I had the ideal man all worked out in my mind.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you work out the answer to a mathematical problem, you calculate it. □ [V P n] It is proving hard to work out the value of bankrupt firms' assets. □ [V n P ] If you asked me to add 2 and 2, I would not have the brain power to work it out.
3 PHRASAL VERB If something works out at a particular amount, it is calculated to be that amount after all the facts and figures have been considered. □ [V P + at ] The price per pound works out at £3.20. □ [V P adj] It will probably work out cheaper to hire a van and move your own things.
4 PHRASAL VERB If a situation works out well or works out , it happens or progresses in a satisfactory way. □ [V P prep/adv] Things just didn't work out as planned. □ [V P ] One of the ways people experience loss is when relationships don't work out.
5 PHRASAL VERB If a process works itself out , it reaches a conclusion or satisfactory end. □ [V pron-refl P ] People involved in it think it's a nightmare, but I'm sure it will work itself out.
6 PHRASAL VERB If you work out your service or your notice, you continue to work at your job until you have completed a specified period of time. □ [V P n] There was an interim before her successor actually came because she had to work out her notice. [Also V n P ]
7 PHRASAL VERB If you work out , you do physical exercises in order to make your body fit and strong. □ [V P ] Work out at a gym or swim twice a week.
8 → see also workout
▸ work up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you work yourself up , you make yourself feel very upset or angry about something. □ [V pron-refl P + into/to ] She worked herself up into a bit of a state. □ [V pron-refl P ] Don't just lie there working yourself up, do something about it.
2 → see also worked up
3 PHRASAL VERB If you work up the enthusiasm or courage to do something, you succeed in making yourself feel it. □ [V P n] Your creative talents can also be put to good use, if you can work up the energy.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you work up a sweat or an appetite, you make yourself sweaty or hungry by doing exercise or hard work. □ [V P n] You can really work up a sweat doing housework.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you work up something such as a piece of writing, you spend time and effort preparing it. □ [V P n] I sketched the layout of a prototype store and worked up a business plan.
work|able /wɜː r kəb ə l/ ADJ A workable idea or system is realistic and practical, and likely to be effective. □ Investors can simply pay cash, but this isn't a workable solution in most cases.
worka|day /wɜː r kəde I / ADJ [usu ADJ n] Workaday means ordinary and not especially interesting or unusual. □ Enough of fantasy, the workaday world awaited him.
worka|hol|ic /wɜː kəhɒ l I k, [AM ] -hɔː l-/ (workaholics ) N‑COUNT A workaholic is a person who works most of the time and finds it difficult to stop working in order to do other things. [INFORMAL ]
work|bench /wɜː r kbentʃ/ (workbenches ) N‑COUNT A workbench is a heavy wooden table on which people use tools such as a hammer and nails to make or repair things.
work|book /wɜː r kbʊk/ (workbooks ) N‑COUNT A workbook is a book to help you learn a particular subject which has questions in it with spaces for the answers.
work|day /wɜː r kde I / (workdays ) also work day
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A workday is the amount of time during a day which you spend doing your job. [mainly AM ] □ His workday starts at 3.30 a.m. and lasts 12 hours. in BRIT, usually use working day 2 N‑COUNT A workday is a day on which people go to work. □ What's he doing home on a workday?
wo rked u p ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is worked up , they are angry or upset. □ Steve shouted at her. He was really worked up now.
work|er ◆◆◆ /wɜː r kə r / (workers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A particular kind of worker does the kind of work mentioned. □ …office workers. □ The society was looking for a capable research worker.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Workers are people who are employed in industry or business and who are not managers. □ Wages have been frozen and workers laid off.
3 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] You can use worker to say how well or badly someone works. □ He is a hard worker and a skilled gardener.
4 → see also care worker , caseworker , dock worker , social worker , teleworker , youth worker SYNONYMS worker NOUN 2
employee: He is an employee of Fuji Bank.
hand: He now works as a farm hand.
labourer: Her husband had been a farm labourer.
workman: Millson saw the workman, Terry, descending the ladder.
work|fare /wɜː r kfeə r / N‑UNCOUNT Workfare is a government scheme in which unemployed people have to do community work or learn new skills in order to receive welfare benefits.