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
For years, corrections officers at Louisville’s jail have consistently worked up to 16 hours of overtime each week due to staff shortages.
—
Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
In order to support his daughter’s endeavors, Richard usually worked up to 30 hours of overtime.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 24 Feb. 2026
Choose understandable, specific language to engender trust and work up momentum.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Hike just enough of it to work up an appetite.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for work up
Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
In order to support his daughter’s endeavors, Richard usually worked up to 30 hours of overtime.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 24 Feb. 2026
Choose understandable, specific language to engender trust and work up momentum.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Hike just enough of it to work up an appetite.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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Researchers developed a new approach, the constant inner potential density functional theory, which enables the inclusion of the electrode potential in the simulation of semiconductor electrochemistry.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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While other forwards struggled to develop synergy with new linemates, Cowan made chemistry with those around him look easy.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some women have forged ahead anyway.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
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By playing against type, by glamming down and going raw, Taylor helped forge the modern template for so many Oscar-winning performances that followed her.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
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The goal in the West Bank is to create a homogenous ethnicity in a space that is being cleansed of Palestinians, and to expand the Israeli footprint there.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The judge presiding, Arun Subramanian, ordered the parties to try to work out a settlement this week.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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Divided evenly, that works out to roughly 1,017 miles a month.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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