not work out

USAGE SUMMARY

"not work out" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a situation or plan that fails to succeed or produce the desired outcome. Example: "I thought the project would be successful, but it did not work out as planned." Alternative expressions include "fall through," "not pan out," and "fail to materialize."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Things did not work out as planned.

The Economist

This did not work out either.

The New Yorker

How could this not work out?

The New York Times

That did not work out well.

The New York Times

It did not work out well.

The New York Times

But that did not work out, either.

The New York Times - Sports

Austerity did not work out very well.

The New York Times - Books

The Twins will not work out Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

It would not work out like that.

The Guardian - Opinion

That did not work out very well.

The New Yorker

Things did not work out so well.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not work out" when you want to describe a plan, relationship or project that failed without assigning specific blame. It is often perceived as a softer way to describe failure.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in contexts where it could be confused with physical fitness. While 'he did not work out today' usually refers to exercise, 'his plan did not work out' refers to failure. Ensure the subject clearly identifies whether you are discussing an activity or an outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not work out" functions as a negated phrasal verb. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it primarily serves as a predicate to indicate the lack of a successful conclusion. It is syntactically flexible and can be used in various tenses such as 'did not work out', 'does not work out' or 'will not work out'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "not work out" is a highly versatile and correct English expression used to describe the failure of plans, relationships or expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a primary phrase across high-authority sources like The New York Times and The Economist. It is most effectively used when a writer needs a neutral way to state that an intended outcome was not achieved. For writers seeking a more formal tone, alternatives like "<a href="/s/fail+to+materialize" target="_blank" rel="alternative">fail to materialize" are recommended, but for general, journalistic and professional contexts, "not work out" remains the standard choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not pan out

More idiomatic and slightly more informal than the query

fall through

Commonly used for specific agreements, deals or concrete plans

fail to materialize

Significantly more formal and common in business or economic reports

not come to fruition

Elevated register used for long-term projects or visions

go awry

Suggests that a plan went off track or took a wrong turn

prove unsuccessful

Direct and descriptive without the phrasal verb structure

not yield results

Focuses on the lack of output, common in scientific or technical contexts

break down

Specifically refers to the collapse of negotiations or relationships

misfire

Metaphorical term indicating a failed attempt or strategy

not bear fruit

Metaphorical and literary way to say the effort was unproductive

FAQs

How do I use "not work out" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe failed expectations, such as: "The business partnership was promising but it did "not work out" in the end."

What can I say instead of "not work out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/not+pan+out" target="_blank" rel="alternative">not pan out", "<a href="/s/fall+through" target="_blank" rel="alternative">fall through" or "<a href="/s/prove+unsuccessful" target="_blank" rel="alternative">prove unsuccessful".

Is "not work out" appropriate for formal writing?

It is acceptable in most professional settings, though in highly formal reports you might prefer "<a href="/s/fail+to+materialize" target="_blank" rel="alternative">fail to materialize" or "<a href="/s/not+come+to+fruition" target="_blank" rel="alternative">not come to fruition".

Can "not work out" refer to relationships?

Yes, it is one of the most common ways to describe a breakup or a failed romance, as seen in the sentence: "The marriage did "not work out" and they separated after two years."