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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of work up
More experienced runners can gradually increase the running intervals, working up to four or six minutes of running with a one-minute walk break.
—
Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 16 Mar. 2026
All were active in Los Angeles — Williams, for instance, was a pivotal designer on the LAX Theme Building — and Smith interlaces decorative flourishes in varying styles that twist around one another to work up the Legacy Tower’s pointed spheres.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
A day out in Mother Nature will work up your appetite, and aprés snacks can only get you so far.
—Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
Now this got several corners of the ol’ interwebs worked up into quite a lather.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for work up
Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 16 Mar. 2026
All were active in Los Angeles — Williams, for instance, was a pivotal designer on the LAX Theme Building — and Smith interlaces decorative flourishes in varying styles that twist around one another to work up the Legacy Tower’s pointed spheres.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
A day out in Mother Nature will work up your appetite, and aprés snacks can only get you so far.
—Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
Now this got several corners of the ol’ interwebs worked up into quite a lather.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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The company develops and makes products for civilian and military use, such as drone technologies used by Ukraine's armed forces in the fight against the Russian invasion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
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Israel’s Elbit Systems has revealed that it has been contracted to develop aircraft-mountable versions of its XCalibur high-power laser systems.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors said Richins was in dire financial straits and having an extramarital affair, leading her to forge life insurance documents and to eventually kill her husband.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
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Clients include pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who has forged a sizable following on YouTube, as well as Shaquille O’Neal’s Jersey Legends, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, and Derek Jeter’s Cap 2 Productions.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The preponderance of patients paying out of pocket for these products is actually creating this dynamic where the companies are lowering their list price to compete for cash-paying customers.—
CHRISTOPHER ROWLAND THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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The controversial Crowsnest annexation petition in Castle Pines has been withdrawn by the developer, as Castle Pines prepares to consider creating an annexation policy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Allen didn’t work out at the combine or his Pro Day.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Meta’s bets on VR software haven’t worked out very well; the company recently laid off about 10 percent of its Reality Labs division, closed three VR studios, stopped new content for VR fitness app Supernatural, and discontinued its metaverse for work.—
Jay Peters,
The Verge,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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