1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To generate a physical condition (such as a sweat or appetite) through sustained activity.
"We worked up quite an appetite hiking through the mountains all morning."
separable
work up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To develop, create, or generate something through effort; or to cause someone to become excited, upset, or emotional.
In plain English
To slowly build up a feeling or to create something by working hard at it.
What does "work up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To make someone (often oneself) emotionally agitated, excited, or upset.
"Don't get yourself worked up over something you can't control."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To develop or expand something basic into something more complete or polished.
"She worked up her rough notes into a full business proposal over the weekend."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To work upward — building something up from a lower state to a higher one.
Actually means
To slowly build up a feeling or to create something by working hard at it.
Usage tip
Has several common uses: generating physical states ('work up a sweat', 'work up an appetite'), creating emotional states ('work yourself up'), and developing something from basic material ('work up a sketch into a full design'). Often used with 'get worked up' meaning to become anxious or agitated.
Words that pair with "work up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sweat appetite courage enthusiasm anger draft plan emotion
How to conjugate "work up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
work up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
works up
he/she/it
Past simple
worked up
yesterday
Past participle
worked up
have + pp
-ing form
working up
continuous
Hear "work up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "work up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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