work-up
noun
an undesirable deposit of ink on a surface being printed, caused by the forcing into type-high position of quads or other spacing material.
work-up
American
[wurk-uhp]
/ ˈwɜrkˌʌp /
noun
Printing.
work up
British
verb
-
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)
work up
Idioms
-
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]
Etymology
Origin of work-up
Noun use of verb phrase work up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The next time my mother tells me that something does not feel right, I will make sure her work-up is thorough and her screenings—the ones that the current evidence recommends—are current.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
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
When Warren first met her now-husband, she sent him for a full lab work-up, HSV test included.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2022
Manfred has the power to refer Bauer to a board for psychological work-up as well as potential counseling and treatment.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 19, 2021
Yet, this is often what distressed patients with irritable bowel syndrome hear, implicitly or explicitly, when a medical work-up reveals no apparent explanation for their repeated bouts of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.
From New York Times ● Aug. 2, 2021
The new findings indicate that this protection may only work up to a point, said Angela Encerrado-Manriquez, the paper's lead author and a recent Ph.D. graduate from UC Davis.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
"I'm getting to sit and observe a master at work up close," Hansard said.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
It’s not bad for someone who just a few years ago needed to work up the courage to see himself as a director.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
When I’m ready to freshen up my fridge, I tend to work up a loose step ladder depending on my energy and the kind of week I’m having.
From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2026
She said, “If you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church.”
From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
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.
