as in develops
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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Recent Examples of works up
The whole episode works up to Dorit and Amanda’s confrontation at Dorit and Erika’s birthday dinner.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Smalltown Boy works up the courage to ask Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) to dance, and now their hands are all over each other, much to the chagrin of Smalltown Boy’s ex, Personal Jesus, who is going through the motions of dancing with Caribbean Queen but keeps looking over his shoulder.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Smalltown Boy works up the courage to ask Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) to dance, and now their hands are all over each other, much to the chagrin of Smalltown Boy’s ex, Personal Jesus, who is going through the motions of dancing with Caribbean Queen but keeps looking over his shoulder.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for works up
Verb
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Instead, each dolphin develops their vocal signature on their own through vocal learning, the process of modifying sound patterns based on social experiences and interactions.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cross said frostbite develops in stages.—
Erin Jones,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The collision of opposing perspectives forges art that challenges and confronts, that forces us out of familiar ways of thinking, relating and being.—
Richard P. Weigand,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Ineos Grenadier is a likable competitor to trucks like the G-Wagen but also a strange one that forges its own path, with many a special edition accentuating its premise.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sandra Hernández, president of the California Health Care Foundation, said the federal legislation creates administrative hurdles, requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to meet new work or income requirements and to undergo the eligibility re-determination process every six months instead of annually.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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That urgency creates the perfect conditions for fraud.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Assuming everything works out, shipping should commence in August.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Jan. 2026
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If everything works out for Joseph, Denver special teams coach Darren Rizzi said a new team will be getting someone special.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There are a lot of quality hammers out there, but this Craftsman hammer from Amazon is both tough and affordable.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over the subsequent stories, Goodman crafts subtle investigations of the relations between siblings, the fine blend of anxiety and pride parents feel for their offspring, and the bemused affection an aunt or uncle might feel for their aimless nieces or haphazard nephews.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
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Good thing, too, because his movie is about a fisherwoman who crafts a husband out of wicker.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Works up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/works%20up. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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