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
Getting worked up about wine is unnecessary, some sommeliers say, but there’s no denying that a perfect wine pairing can accentuate the taste and tone of your soirée.
—
Jeremy Harlan, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
That might mean working up the courage to stop by an intimate housewarming party (versus jumping straight into public speaking or a packed networking event).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 28 July 2025
Instead of working up a sweat with your spatula, do yourself a favor and pick up a flexible plastic cake scraper for around $5.
—Grace Kneebone, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
Lewitt, who graduated with an electrical engineering degree, was working up to 50 hours a week at a job that involved helping autonomous vehicles detect traffic lights on the road.
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for work up
Jeremy Harlan, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
That might mean working up the courage to stop by an intimate housewarming party (versus jumping straight into public speaking or a packed networking event).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 28 July 2025
Instead of working up a sweat with your spatula, do yourself a favor and pick up a flexible plastic cake scraper for around $5.
—Grace Kneebone, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
Lewitt, who graduated with an electrical engineering degree, was working up to 50 hours a week at a job that involved helping autonomous vehicles detect traffic lights on the road.
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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The new owner of the property, at 1414-1420 N. Phillips Ave., plans to develop a five-story building with 22 apartments and 3,600 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.—
Tom Daykin,
jsonline.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Understanding the physics allowed scientists to develop algorithms that use TEMPO’s data to infer the smoke plume's altitude and map its 3D movement in nearly real time.—
Jun Wang,
Space.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Holt also embraced telemedicine and other technological tools to improve patient experience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, forging a path for bettering patient care in the digital age.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
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Alexia has done it the right way, by putting in her time, forging bonds with all the women, and bringing more storylines than a decade’s worth of telenovelas.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Our leadership should bring people together, not create division.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice created Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Leading up to the trade deadline, Preller and team worked out of an auditorium at Petco Park.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
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Cost-cutting measures worked out in bankruptcy included selling planes, eliminating underperforming routes, and cutting hundreds of pilot jobs.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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