answer vs work out

answer is a noun but work out is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
answer	Yes	No	Yes	No
work out	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, work out is a hypernym of answer; that is, work out is a word with a broader meaning than answer:

answer: give the correct answer or solution to
work out: find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Other hypernyms of answer include figure out, lick, puzzle out, solve, work.

As verbs, work out is a hypernym of answer; that is, work out is a word with a broader meaning than answer:

answer: understand the meaning of
work out: find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Other hypernyms of answer include figure out, lick, puzzle out, solve, work.

answer (noun)	work out (noun)
a nonverbal reaction
the speech act of replying to a question
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

answer (verb)	work out (verb)
give the correct answer or solution to	do physical exercise
respond to a signal	give a workout to
understand the meaning of	come up with
react to a stimulus or command	work out in detail
react verbally	find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)	make a mathematical calculation or computation
be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of	be calculated
match or correspond	happen in a certain way, leading to, producing, or resulting in a certain outcome, often well
be liable or accountable
be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity