WORK UP
Dictionary entry overview: What does work up mean?
• WORK UP (verb)
The verb WORK UP has 4 senses:
1. form or accumulate steadily
2. develop
3. bolster or strengthen
4. come up with
Familiarity information: WORK UP used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• WORK UP (verb)
Meaning:
Form or accumulate steadily
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
work up; build; build up; progress
Context examples:
Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly / Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border
Hypernyms (to "work up" is one way to...):
develop (grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Develop
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
work up; get up
Context example:
we worked up an as of an appetite
Hypernyms (to "work up" is one way to...):
acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Bolster or strengthen
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
ramp up; work up; build up; build
Context examples:
We worked up courage / build up confidence / ramp up security in the airports
Hypernyms (to "work up" is one way to...):
increase (make bigger or more)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Come up with
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
work out; work up
Context examples:
His colleagues worked out his interesting idea / We worked up an ad for our client
Hypernyms (to "work up" is one way to...):
develop; make grow (cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something