Meaning & use
workups
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“workups” is a form of “workup”.
Meanings
nouncountablemedical
A series of medical tests done to find the cause of a patient's symptoms.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a workup' or 'several workups'.
Patterns
- a workup for something
- do a workup
- order workups
The doctor ordered a full workup to rule out any serious conditions.
After the initial workup, the patient was referred to a specialist.
The hospital does routine workups for patients with chest pain.
nouncountableinformal
A thorough examination or preparation, often before a project or performance.
Grammar: Countable: used in non-medical contexts to mean a detailed review.
Patterns
- a workup of something
- do a workup
The team did a workup of the data before the meeting.
She gave a workup of the proposal to the board.
Common combinations
- medical workup
- The medical workup included blood tests and an X-ray.
- diagnostic workup
- A diagnostic workup helped identify the rare disease.
- full workup
- He received a full workup at the hospital.
- order a workup
- The doctor decided to order a workup for the patient's fatigue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tests
- A more general word; 'workup' specifically means a set of tests done to diagnose a condition.
- examination
- Broader and can mean a physical exam or a detailed inspection; 'workup' is more technical and implies multiple tests.
Word family
- workup noun
- Singular form; a single set of tests or a detailed review.
Commonly confused: workups or work out?
workups vs work out
As a verb, 'work out' means to exercise or to solve something; 'workup' is a noun for medical tests.
Practice
In a medical context, what does 'workups' refer to?
Choose one answer.
Workups are sets of tests to diagnose a condition. They are not surgeries, medications, or bills.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “workups”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.