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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of work up
Still, several commenters questioned why the bride was so worked up about Carl's wedding attire.
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Erin Clack, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
How else could a 20-year-old from a small town in Mexico who didn’t speak English or understand anything about this strange city have worked up the nerve to stare down the New York Yankees in the World Series?
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
Brian’s Proposal Party After hemming and hawing over proposing to his boyfriend Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), Brian finally works up the nerve to do so and buys a ring.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work up 
Erin Clack, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
How else could a 20-year-old from a small town in Mexico who didn’t speak English or understand anything about this strange city have worked up the nerve to stare down the New York Yankees in the World Series?
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
Brian’s Proposal Party After hemming and hawing over proposing to his boyfriend Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), Brian finally works up the nerve to do so and buys a ring.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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Along with the great orchard expansion, supporting industries developed: barrel making, apple drying, distilling juice, packing sheds, and ice-making plants.arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
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Especially developing the story about the father son relationship with Thomas, played by Miles Marthaller.Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The election adds a relative newcomer to Arizona's water world as the state forges through interstate negotiations over strained supplies in the Colorado River.Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
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But the documentary makes the case that Billy Preston forged a heady chunk of the funk DNA.Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In a testament to the power of libraries creating a sense of community through programs, a patron shared a wonderful anecdote recently with our youth services librarian, Melissa Burke.Barbara D. Hathaway, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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The precursor to the Constitution and replaced by that document, the Articles of Confederation created the framework of a federal government while preserving the sovereignty of the states. 1920: The first meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations took place in Geneva, Switzerland.Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Kurzel deliberately worked out the schedule so the two actors could be kept apart until that confrontation, bringing an extra charge to the moment as their characters size each other up.Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
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The timing worked out perfectly: for more than six months leading up until then, Bear had been trying to get gigs scoring projects but had been striking out.Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 27 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near work up
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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