to arouse the feelings of; excite
to cause to grow or develop
to work up a hunger
(also preposition) to move or cause to move gradually upwards
to manipulate or mix into a specified object or shape
to gain knowledge of or skill at (a subject)
Arouse emotions; see worked up .
Increase one's skill, status, or responsibility through effort, as in He worked up to 30 sit-ups a day , or She worked up to bank manager . Also see work one's way . [Second half of 1600s]
Intensify gradually, as in The film worked up to a thrilling climax . [Second half of 1600s]
Develop or produce by effort, as in Swimming always works up an appetite . [Second half of 1600s]
Noun use of verb phrase work up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Neurology was consulted and did an extensive work-up: blood tests, CT scans, an M.R.I., an EEG, a spinal tap.
From New York Times ● Mar. 7, 2024
In detail and sweep, “Emily” nevertheless shares many of the handsome, cozily inviting essentials of a standard biographical work-up.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
Certainly, tweaks to the bill — some of them under discussion as part of the Rules Committee’s work-up — would strengthen the proposal.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 2022
When Warren first met her now-husband, she sent him for a full lab work-up, HSV test included.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2022
When she sought an abortion, a work-up revealed a 24-week fetus with extreme anomalies and an unusually large placenta.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2019
So did I work up a sweat in any of the games I played?
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Because the person has not worked outside of the house, Trench and Jensen have them start with an entry-level receptionist job paying $45,000 a year, and work up from there.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 30, 2026
Given the current resources being devoted to oil tankers, they said the group can work up the information necessary to submit a seizure warrant to the court in a matter of weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
This means the controllers who are currently working are staffed for shifts six days per week and sometimes work up to 10 hours per day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2025
“Okay. I’ll work up a schedule. And we’ve got to get you into the weight room. And on a muscle-building diet.”
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
