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.
Few could doubt the power and originality of his early work--up to, say, the Spanish Civil War.
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
