as in to develop
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort
spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail
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Recent Examples of work up
Fallon, meanwhile, worked up the courage to take a bite.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
That started at 20 percent and worked up gradually.
—Sam Blum, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
While initially working in a hair salon in his hometown of Houston, Guerrero worked up the courage to move to L.A. to pursue his dreams.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
If all that fun works up an appetite, never fear—Okana has 13 different dining venues.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for work up
Bailey Richards, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
That started at 20 percent and worked up gradually.
—Sam Blum, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
While initially working in a hair salon in his hometown of Houston, Guerrero worked up the courage to move to L.A. to pursue his dreams.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
If all that fun works up an appetite, never fear—Okana has 13 different dining venues.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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However, if the drywall develops large vertical, horizontal, or diagonal cracks, this is a sign that the foundation is unstable.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Mar. 2025
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This mindset often develops from early experiences of taking on too much responsibility or facing challenges without support.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Against an unstable, precarious world, designers forged ahead making clothes for future versions of us—six months into the future, but into the future nonetheless.—
Laia Garcia-Furtado,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2025
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Without their go-to scorer and clutch performer, the Knicks are forging a new identity as a stout defensive team.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Often called the holy grail of clean energy, nuclear fusion creates four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than traditional nuclear fission and 4 million times more than burning coal, with no greenhouse gasses or long-term radioactive waste.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2025
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As before, no new money is created when original savings are used up.—
Ann Rutledge,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But when breaking down overall costs, the monthly commitment works out to be just two dollars per week, resulting in access to thousands of hours of TV shows and movies, as well as sports and news.—
Maya Gandara,
StyleCaster,
21 Mar. 2025
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Happily, by the story’s end, everything works out, and Babe wins a herding competition.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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