: 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
Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Death Becomes Her, the new musical adaptation of the 1992 comedy fantasy film, worked up some Broadway magic in its second week since beginning performances at the Lunt-Fontanne, grossing an impressive $1,073,018 for seven previews and filling 98% of the venue’s seats.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Unless Josh finally works up the courage to take his crush on Bananas to the next level.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Death Becomes Her, the new musical adaptation of the 1992 comedy fantasy film, worked up some Broadway magic in its second week since beginning performances at the Lunt-Fontanne, grossing an impressive $1,073,018 for seven previews and filling 98% of the venue’s seats.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Nov. 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 22 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share