: 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
The Editors, National Review, 8 Aug. 2024
At this point, however, the Trump campaign hasn’t yet shared whether a full workup was done at the time or if there has been any follow-up since.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 18 July 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
Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 30 July 2024
Ressler and Douglas worked up a criminal profile with the help of Burgess and other agents, which led them to a third unsolved killing in Maine of 11-year-old Ricky Stetson, who had been stabbed, bitten, and strangled.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup 
Noun
According to a 2018 letter to the editor written by retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr to Minnesota’s West Central Tribune newspaper, the unit began its training workup in the fall of 2005, and then spent 18 months in the combat zone in 2006 and 2007.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Aug. 2024
At this point, however, the Trump campaign hasn’t yet shared whether a full workup was done at the time or if there has been any follow-up since.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 18 July 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
When all that pampering works up an appetite, the Corinthia has three sprawling restaurants ranging from classic British to zingy Italian.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 30 July 2024
Ressler and Douglas worked up a criminal profile with the help of Burgess and other agents, which led them to a third unsolved killing in Maine of 11-year-old Ricky Stetson, who had been stabbed, bitten, and strangled.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for workup
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'workup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near workup
Cite this Entry
“Workup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workup. Accessed 19 Aug. 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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