Phrase guide

worked up

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Excessively emotional, excited, aroused or angry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • I know it's difficult when things get this busy, but there's really no need to get so worked up over it.
  • Brother Wu gets worked up when you banter him off in any way, shape or form. Particularly his shoddy brand, football opinions or taste in clothes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: agitated, cranked up, overemotional, overwrought

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

(of persons) excessively affected by emotion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he would become emotional over nothing at all
  • she was worked up about all the noise

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aroused, emotional, excited

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: emocionat — excessively emotional
  • Chinese Mandarin: 情緒化 /情绪化 (qíngxùhuà) — excessively emotional
  • Finnish: kiihtynyt — excessively emotional
  • Italian: emozionato — excessively emotional
  • Portuguese: emocionado — excessively emotional
  • Spanish: emocionado — excessively emotional
  • Spanish: excitado — excessively emotional
  • Turkish: öfkeli — excessively emotional