: an intensive diagnostic study especially for medical purposes
: an unintended mark on a printed sheet caused by the rising of spacing material
worked up; working up; works up
1
: to stir up : rouse
2
: to produce by mental or physical work
worked up a comedy act
worked up a sweat in the gym
: to rise gradually in intensity or emotional tone
Synonyms
Examples of workup in a Sentence
Verb
spent years working up a period novel that was historically accurate in every detail
Recent Examples on the Web
Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
An annual blood workup might signal that your routine is too focused on one domain.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
Karen Pallarito, Health, 2 June 2024
Good posture and footwork to slide, secure and climb on work-up blocks.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup 
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Noun
Because of the sort of tumor her doctors suspected, the medical workup would require an injection of a chemical that would be deadly to the fetus.
—Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
An annual blood workup might signal that your routine is too focused on one domain.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
Helping people overcome treatment-resistant depression begins with a thorough work-up to ensure a proper diagnosis.
—Karen Pallarito, Health, 2 June 2024
Good posture and footwork to slide, secure and climb on work-up blocks.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
How else could a 20-year-old from a small town in Mexico who didn’t speak English or understand anything about this strange city have worked up the nerve to stare down the New York Yankees in the World Series?
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Recognizing that, Fifita and McMillan worked up a new tactic to throw at Hunter last fall: the jump ball.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup
Dictionary Entries Near workup
Cite this Entry
“Workup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workup. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
workup
1 of 2 noun
work·up
ˈwər-ˌkəp 
: an intensive diagnostic study
a gastrointestinal workup
a psychiatric workup
work up
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to perform a diagnostic workup upon
work up a patient
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