: 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
Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 June 2023
There are several compelling technological solutions that can minimize misdiagnosis, reduce the time and effort of a workup, educate patients and families, and mitigate risks.
—Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 June 2023
Eight hours later, he was carried out of the building on a blanket, finally breaking free of its walls, to get a full medical workup.
—Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023
Biologists performed a full workup on the bear, including collecting biological samples, taking various body measurements, attaching an ear tag, conducting a physical exam and fitting a GPS radio-collar around its neck, according to the NPS.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 May 2023
How to get rid of nightmares Get a full-body workup.
—Alyssa Jung, Good Housekeeping, 19 June 2023
Instead, the process could result in a lot of worry for asymptomatic patients and force the patient and doctor to undergo more workups without yielding anything significant.
—Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 3 May 2023
The puzzling intractability had triggered a soup-to-nuts workup: abdominal CAT scan, diagnostic testing for stool pathogens and a lab workup that measured everything but copper levels.
—Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2020
How many of the 20% of breast cancers are going to be in that one of five women who elect to not get the further workup?
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 17 Apr. 2023
Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
According to Gounder, the next steps in James' work-up might include an MRI of the heart, rhythmic monitoring and possibly genetic testing to explore other potential causes before returning to training and play.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 26 July 2023
Some mental health professionals called for a cognitive work-up, citing lack of impulse control and other signs of decline.
—Dallas News, 16 Feb. 2023
Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
In a promo for this week's episode, Gosling is seen working up the courage to get an autograph from country music icon Chris Stapleton, the night's musical guest.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024
If anyone was wondering what Buffett covers he, the Eagles or Snoop were going to work up for the evening, there were no rules about having to interpret his catalog.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
What a joy to watch Rolex’s fan base get all worked up over a slightly narrower lug on the Submariner, or the inclusion of a minuscule movement upgrade in the Oyster Perpetual, or—OMG! —a Jubilee bracelet on a six-digit GMT Master II.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
When the child got worked up, she’d sometimes be allowed to sit with that social worker or in the nurse's office to calm down.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Gwyneth Paltrow loves to work up a sweat — in Spanx!
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Goldbelly Monthly Subscription $90 Growing a baby is hard work and can definitely work up an interesting appetite.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
After a long day of working up a sweat, kick back at Salmon River Brewery's rooftop beer garden, which offers the best view of Payette Lake from downtown.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
The workup to make these diagnoses accurately is complicated and time-intensive.
—Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 June 2023
There are several compelling technological solutions that can minimize misdiagnosis, reduce the time and effort of a workup, educate patients and families, and mitigate risks.
—Jason Karlawish, STAT, 16 June 2023
Eight hours later, he was carried out of the building on a blanket, finally breaking free of its walls, to get a full medical workup.
—Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023
Biologists performed a full workup on the bear, including collecting biological samples, taking various body measurements, attaching an ear tag, conducting a physical exam and fitting a GPS radio-collar around its neck, according to the NPS.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 May 2023
How to get rid of nightmares Get a full-body workup.
—Alyssa Jung, Good Housekeeping, 19 June 2023
Instead, the process could result in a lot of worry for asymptomatic patients and force the patient and doctor to undergo more workups without yielding anything significant.
—Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 3 May 2023
The puzzling intractability had triggered a soup-to-nuts workup: abdominal CAT scan, diagnostic testing for stool pathogens and a lab workup that measured everything but copper levels.
—Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2020
How many of the 20% of breast cancers are going to be in that one of five women who elect to not get the further workup?
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 17 Apr. 2023
Noun
Neurology was consulted and did an extensive work-up: blood tests, CT scans, an M.R.I., an EEG, a spinal tap.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
According to Gounder, the next steps in James' work-up might include an MRI of the heart, rhythmic monitoring and possibly genetic testing to explore other potential causes before returning to training and play.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 26 July 2023
Some mental health professionals called for a cognitive work-up, citing lack of impulse control and other signs of decline.
—Dallas News, 16 Feb. 2023
Verb
Werner Spitz continued private consulting work, his son said, and was working up until about six weeks ago.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
In a promo for this week's episode, Gosling is seen working up the courage to get an autograph from country music icon Chris Stapleton, the night's musical guest.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024
If anyone was wondering what Buffett covers he, the Eagles or Snoop were going to work up for the evening, there were no rules about having to interpret his catalog.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
What a joy to watch Rolex’s fan base get all worked up over a slightly narrower lug on the Submariner, or the inclusion of a minuscule movement upgrade in the Oyster Perpetual, or—OMG! —a Jubilee bracelet on a six-digit GMT Master II.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
When the child got worked up, she’d sometimes be allowed to sit with that social worker or in the nurse's office to calm down.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Gwyneth Paltrow loves to work up a sweat — in Spanx!
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Goldbelly Monthly Subscription $90 Growing a baby is hard work and can definitely work up an interesting appetite.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
After a long day of working up a sweat, kick back at Salmon River Brewery's rooftop beer garden, which offers the best view of Payette Lake from downtown.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
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 26 Apr. 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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