Wordnet 3.0
VERB (1)
1. 
 bolster or strengthen; 
- Example: "We worked up courage"- Example: "build up confidence"- Example: "ramp up security in the airports"[syn: build up, work up, build, ramp up]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ramp up
    v 1: bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up
         confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports" [syn:
         build up, work up, build, ramp up]