beef up

verb

beefed up; beefing up; beefs up
Synonyms of beef upnext
informal
: to add weight, strength, or power to (something)
Security around the city will be beefed up during the event.
a politician looking to beef his image up

Examples of beef up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2014, he was rebuffed in his $80-billion bid to beef up his 21st Century Fox by buying HBO, CNN and other Time Warner assets. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 So your primary objective when planning home security is to beef up your locks and latches and maintain good habits. Kevin Brasler, Washington Post, 2 July 2026 Security at all events at Hard Rock Stadium has been beefed up since that incident, and FIFA security is even tighter for World Cup matches, with a three-ringed perimeter checkpoint system that limits access only to ticketholders and cars without special passes cannot get near parking lots. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 Police beefing up patrols Meanwhile, businesses in Fells Point are looking for a boost to their bottom line from the patriotic weekend. Bryant Reed, CBS News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for beef up

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beef up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beef%20up. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on beef up

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster