wɜːrk ʌp
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- work
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "work up" mean?
- To develop or create something gradually
- To make yourself or someone feel an emotion strongly
- To develop an appetite or feeling through activity
- To build enthusiasm or energy for something
Examples
- I'm trying to work up the courage to ask her out.
- Let's take a walk and work up an appetite for dinner.
- Don't work yourself up over small problems.
- She worked up a proposal for the new project.
- He worked up from an intern to company president.
How to use it
'Work up an appetite/sweat' is very common. 'Don't get worked up' means don't become too emotional. 'Work up to' something means to gradually reach it.
Word order
Object can go between: 'work an appetite up' or after: 'work up an appetite'. 'Work yourself up' means to become upset or excited.
Similar expressions
develop
generate
build
arouse
excite
Opposites
calm down
suppress
lose
Related phrasal verbs
- work out
To exercise to improve fitness
- work on
To spend time and effort trying to improve or complete something
- work through
To deal with a problem or difficult situation by discussing or thinking about it
- work off
To get rid of something unwanted by working or exercising
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
Use it in a practice answer
Try "work up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.