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
The backstory This is the first hotel by Jaime Bravo, a Costa Rican hotelier who worked up the ranks of hospitality at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong and a couple of boutique hotels in Tulum.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The touching moment was shared on the TikTok account @rosiethestaffygirl, capturing the instant Rosie—a Staffordshire bull terrier rescue—worked up the nerve to confront something that had clearly been troubling her.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for work up
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
The touching moment was shared on the TikTok account @rosiethestaffygirl, capturing the instant Rosie—a Staffordshire bull terrier rescue—worked up the nerve to confront something that had clearly been troubling her.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for work up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work up
Verb
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This is a developing story and will be updated.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Pittsburgh got aggressive to nab a solid Plan B at receiver (Alabama’s Germie Bernard), generated buzz with a project quarterback (Drew Allar) for Mike McCarthy to develop, and finished the night by trading up to secure a fan-favorite, Iowa guard Gennings Dunker, who potentially fills a major need.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials say the ring targeted vulnerable residents by forging documents, stealing personal information about the real owners and arranging the sales of the properties.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Mets are continuing to forge ahead with the team built by Stearns and managed by Mendoza, despite suboptimal results.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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August 23 – September 22 A smart adjustment today creates more momentum than effort.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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The barbs that President Barack Obama and Seth Meyers hurled at him created a political narrative that persists.—
Elahe Izadi,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Twenty lucid dreamers, including Bark-Huss, spent multiple nights in the lab, trying to work out puzzles in their sleep.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
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Not every sale works out like that, but Kahn has done well enough to make this his career.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Work up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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