Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
work up. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
work up, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
work up in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
work up you have here. The definition of the word
work up will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
work up, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
work up (third-person singular simple present works up, present participle working up, simple past and past participle worked up)
- To raise; to excite; to stir up.
He worked up the public's passions to rage.
- To develop.
I shall have worked up an appetite with all this heavy work.
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 185:"See how it's working up; we shall have thunder and lightning."
- (transitive, medicine) To give (a patient) a general medical examination to assess health and fitness.
- (obsolete, transitive) To use up (material, etc.).
- (obsolete, nautical) To set at an irksome or needless task.
Translations
To raise; to excite; to stir up.