as in developing
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 working up
Hope is getting dirty, working up a sweat and seeing action.
—
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In the early 1990s, Porsche quietly began work on a V-10 engine for Formula 1; when that fell through, the idea sat on the shelf until the company began working up plans for a new Le Mans racer towards the end of the decade.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
All of this adds up to a more comfortable base for visitors to return to after working up a sweat under the desert sun.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Webtoon Productions has been working up titles from both platforms for film and TV, per our recent feature on the development and production unit, which is run by industry vet David Madden.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Instead of traditionally starting at 100 pounds and working up to 235 pounds, this year’s matches started at 140 pounds.
—Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
To this day, working up a mess of beans soothes and centers me.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In the early 1990s, Porsche quietly began work on a V-10 engine for Formula 1; when that fell through, the idea sat on the shelf until the company began working up plans for a new Le Mans racer towards the end of the decade.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
All of this adds up to a more comfortable base for visitors to return to after working up a sweat under the desert sun.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Webtoon Productions has been working up titles from both platforms for film and TV, per our recent feature on the development and production unit, which is run by industry vet David Madden.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Instead of traditionally starting at 100 pounds and working up to 235 pounds, this year’s matches started at 140 pounds.
—Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
To this day, working up a mess of beans soothes and centers me.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for working up
Verb
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The developing eye benefits from the brighter, more varied light and focusing that outdoors requires.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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An ultrasound confirmed that Amelie is developing eggs, giving researchers another reason to track her movements.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump’s diplomatic approach is chaotic and relies on forging a reality that may – or may not – actually gain traction with the facts on the ground.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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Nevertheless, developers are forging ahead, and one of the more successful VR studios is Owlchemy Labs.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the Island of the Gods, fresh ideas arrive like waves, creating a glorious cocktail of cultures and influences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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One recalled how their oldest child once pushed an unplugged vacuum cleaner across the living room, carefully creating vacuum lines without actually cleaning anything.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gas prices continue to rise in Massachusetts and commuters are working out ways to cut back on spending.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Another way to cut down on decision fatigue while working out is to start with the same move, which creates another predictable routine.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Aponte’s predecessor Kevin Abrams was the Giants‘ salary cap lead in previous years, most memorably hammering out the early versions of Daniel Jones’ contract extension in the lobby of the JW Marriott here in March 2023.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Artificial intelligence, real money When actors and studios arrived at the bargaining table this week to start hammering out the next SAG-AFTRA contract, a key figure in the conversation was not in the room.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Working up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/working%20up. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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