1
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
beefed up the walls with iron bars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beef (up)
Verb
-
The national initiative is awarding more than $10 million to help small businesses grow, innovate, and strengthen their local communities, a spokesperson from the grant program said.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026 -
Not only does the brand’s shampoo and conditioner make my hair feel so clean and look so shiny, but both formulas are also jam-packed with strengthening ingredients—avocado oil, olive oil, milk thistle, and growth-stimulating rosemary—that make the combo genuinely feel like a worthwhile luxury.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, the pace of technological change is accelerating, and global competition is intensifying.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
As supporters continued singing, waving flags and celebrating into the evening, anticipation for the match only intensified.—
J.M. Banks
June 15,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The project in Boyle Heights would enhance bike lanes and pedestrian-level lighting and improve shading by planting more than 300 shade trees.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
While making ergonomic improvements to the CJ4 Gen3 cabin, for instance, Citation added a glass cockpit that will enhance its reputation as the light-jet leader for single pilots.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
But buying individual stocks generally carries greater financial risks than buying a basket of diversified securities — and those risks are heightened in the early days of an IPO, Ritter said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
-
During heavy rainfall, the risk of flooding is heightened, especially in low-lying and flood-prone regions.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Cyber expertise cannot deepen when accountability is unclear, workloads are unmanaged and wellbeing is neglected.—
Harpreet Sidhu,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
-
Just to the west, sunset occurs as the partial eclipse deepens.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 June 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Beef (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beef%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
