: an intensive diagnostic study especially for medical purposes
: an unintended mark on a printed sheet caused by the rising of spacing material
worked up; working up; works up
1
: to stir up : rouse
2
: to produce by mental or physical work
worked up a comedy act
worked up a sweat in the gym
: to rise gradually in intensity or emotional tone
Synonyms
Examples of workup in a Sentence
Verb
spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Fuchs, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
According to a 2018 letter to the editor written by retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr to Minnesota’s West Central Tribune newspaper, the unit began its training workup in the fall of 2005, and then spent 18 months in the combat zone in 2006 and 2007.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Aug. 2024
Karen Pallarito, Health, 2 June 2024
Good posture and footwork to slide, secure and climb on work-up blocks.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup 
Noun
An annual blood workup might signal that your routine is too focused on one domain.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
According to a 2018 letter to the editor written by retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr to Minnesota’s West Central Tribune newspaper, the unit began its training workup in the fall of 2005, and then spent 18 months in the combat zone in 2006 and 2007.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Aug. 2024
Noun
Helping people overcome treatment-resistant depression begins with a thorough work-up to ensure a proper diagnosis.
—Karen Pallarito, Health, 2 June 2024
Good posture and footwork to slide, secure and climb on work-up blocks.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
How else could a 20-year-old from a small town in Mexico who didn’t speak English or understand anything about this strange city have worked up the nerve to stare down the New York Yankees in the World Series?
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'workup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near workup
Cite this Entry
“Workup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workup. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
workup
1 of 2 noun
work·up
ˈwər-ˌkəp 
: an intensive diagnostic study
a gastrointestinal workup
a psychiatric workup
work up
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to perform a diagnostic workup upon
work up a patient
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