Definition of "work up" []

• To raise; to excite; to stir up. (verb)
• To develop. (verb)

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• "Hawkins said, Yeah, he was finally ready to work up the courage to ask her for a date when we were putting Whiteflower together—then the crisis hit, and he backed off."
• "My recommendation to you is this: Gradually work up to exercising aerobically for approximately 6 hours 360 to 375 minutes a week at a moderately high intensity."
• "They allowed her, out of the kindness of their hearts, to work up to her eighth month, only adjuring her always to appear clean, neat, and well-groomed."