work up

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Understanding "Work Up"

Definition: "Work up" is a phrasal verb that can mean different things depending on the context. Generally, it involves developing, building up, or creating something gradually.

Usage Instructions:

• Form: "Work up" is used with a subject (who is doing the action) followed by an object (what is being developed or built). For example: "We worked up a plan."
• Tense: You can use it in different tenses like "worked up" (past), "working up" (present continuous), and "will work up" (future).

Meanings and Examples:

1. To Develop or Create:

   • Example: "We worked up a presentation for the meeting."
   • Meaning: We created or prepared a presentation.

2. To Build Up Confidence or Courage:

   • Example: "She worked up the courage to speak in public."
   • Meaning: She gradually built her confidence to speak.

3. To Accumulate or Form Steadily:

   • Example: "He worked up an appetite before dinner."
   • Meaning: He gradually became hungry.

4. To Intensify or Increase:

   • Example: "The team worked up the security measures at the event."
   • Meaning: The team increased the level of security.

5. To Build Pressure:

   • Example: "Tensions have been working up at the border."
   • Meaning: Tensions have been increasing.

Advanced Usage:

"Work up" can be used in more complex sentences or in professional contexts: - "The researchers worked up a detailed report after months of study." - "The coach worked up the players' morale before the big game."

Word Variants:

• Noun Form: "Workup" can refer to a thorough examination or assessment, often used in medical contexts.
  • Example: "The doctor performed a workup to understand the patient's condition."

Synonyms:

• Create
• Develop
• Build up
• Accumulate
• Intensify
• Strengthen

Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs:

• "Work up a sweat" - To exert oneself physically.

  • Example: "I worked up a sweat while jogging."

• "Work out" - To solve a problem or to exercise.

  • Example: "We need to work out the details of the project."

Summary:

"Work up" is a versatile phrasal verb that means to develop or build something gradually. It can refer to creating plans, building confidence, accumulating feelings, or increasing intensity.

Academic

Verb

1. come up with
   • His colleagues worked out his interesting idea
   • We worked up an ad for our client
2. bolster or strengthen
   • We worked up courage
   • build up confidence
   • ramp up security in the airports
3. develop
   • we worked up an as of an appetite
4. form or accumulate steadily
   • Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
   • Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border

Synonyms

• work out
• build up
• build
• ramp up
• get up
• progress