worked out an understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked out an understanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of reaching a mutual agreement or comprehension between parties. Example: "After several discussions, we finally worked out an understanding regarding the project's objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

American officials said they had also worked out an understanding of how to track American-provided nuclear materials, as required by law.

The New York Times

The lull, which roughly coincides with the return to Gaza of Hamas's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, has given rise to the theory that he and Yasser Arafat have worked out an "understanding" by which the sheikh would restrain Hamas's military wing, Izzadin el-Qassam, while Mr Arafat would resist Israeli and American pressure to crack down on the movement.

The Economist

Because the Croats were fighting the Serbian nationalists, who were viewed as the main threat to the Muslims, Mr. Izetbegovic, the Bosnian President, announced as recently as a month ago that he had worked out an understanding with Mr. Tudjman under which the Croatian Army was fighting on Bosnian territory with Bosnian permission.

The New York Times

In an interview to the Hindu newspaper recently, he said while the two countries "sat down and worked out an understanding," he was (merely) hopeful "that the commitments between our governments are reflected in commercial contracts".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

MELOY is particularly good at teasing out the inner lives of children, and when a precocious kindergartner tries to work out an understanding of religion in our multicultural times, Meloy touches on many of the book's larger themes.

The New York Times - Books

In The Rule Of Metaphor (1975) and the three-volume Time And Narrative (1983-85), he tried to work out an understanding of subjectivity which would "replace the ego, master of itself, with the self, disciple of the text".

The Guardian

Brett H. McGurk, a former Bush administration aide whom the Obama administration had asked to return to Baghdad to help with the talks, thought that a bruising parliamentary battle could be avoided by working out an understanding under an existing umbrella agreement on economic and security cooperation — an approach Mr. Maliki himself suggested several times.

The New York Times

More than two years ago, he and Mr. Peres worked out an informal understanding that would include an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank to create an interim Palestinian state.

The New York Times

But he set a 90-day deadline for the developer and the Port Authority to work out a new understanding.

The New York Times

The Bush administration has decided that in seeking to work out a new understanding with Moscow to replace the Antiballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 the United States will not accept any agreement that limits the development of antimissile defenses, an official said.

The New York Times

As President Bush prepares for meetings this weekend with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and other world leaders, the White House has stressed its desire to work out a new understanding with Moscow to replace the Antiballistic Missile Treaty of 1972.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worked out an understanding", ensure that all parties involved are genuinely in agreement and that the understanding is clearly defined to avoid future misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid assuming that an understanding exists simply because no objections were raised. Actively confirm the understanding with all parties to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked out an understanding" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful achievement of a mutual agreement or comprehension between parties. Ludwig AI shows that this construction is often used in contexts where negotiations or discussions lead to a resolution.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worked out an understanding" signifies that parties have reached a mutual agreement or comprehension, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, its frequency is uncommon. It appears most often in News & Media, Science and Academia contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the understanding is clearly defined and actively confirmed to avoid any implicit or assumed agreements. Alternatives such as "reached a consensus" or "came to an agreement" may provide similar meaning in different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached a consensus

Emphasizes a collective agreement after discussion.

came to an agreement

Focuses on the act of agreeing, often implying a formal arrangement.

arrived at a compromise

Highlights mutual concessions to reach a solution.

forged an agreement

Suggests a stronger, more durable agreement often after difficulty.

established a mutual agreement

Stresses the shared and reciprocal nature of the agreement.

settled on a solution

Implies reaching a final decision to resolve an issue.

developed a common interpretation

Highlights a shared understanding of a situation or text.

found common ground

Focuses on discovering shared beliefs or interests to build an agreement.

hammered out a deal

Suggests a difficult and intense negotiation process.

ironed out differences

Highlights the process of resolving disagreements to reach understanding.

FAQs

What does "worked out an understanding" mean?

The phrase "worked out an understanding" means that involved parties have successfully reached a mutual agreement, comprehension, or resolution through discussion or negotiation.

What can I say instead of "worked out an understanding"?

You can use alternatives like "reached a consensus", "came to an agreement", or "arrived at a compromise" depending on the context.

How do you use "worked out an understanding" in a sentence?

Example: "After several meetings, the team "worked out an understanding" about the project's objectives and timelines."

What's the difference between "worked out an understanding" and "reached a settlement"?

"Worked out an understanding" implies a broader agreement or comprehension, while "reached a settlement" typically refers to a resolution in a dispute, often legal or financial.