work up
phrasal verbwork something up
- to develop or improve something with some effort
- I can't work up any enthusiasm for his idea.
- She went for a long walk to work up an appetite.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
work somebody/yourself up (into something)
- to make somebody/yourself reach a state of great excitement, anger, etc.
- Don't work yourself up into a state about it. It isn't worth it.