bulk up

verb

bulked up; bulking up; bulks up

intransitive verb

: to gain weight especially by becoming more muscular

transitive verb

: to cause to bulk up

Examples of bulk up in a Sentence

she bulked up her hair with one hand as she reached for the shears with the other

Recent Examples on the Web

The 6-foot-3 Sadiq arrived at Eugene two years ago weighing 220 pounds, but bulked up to 245. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

Warner is bulking up for antitrust review, hiring trial lawyer Dan Petrocelli, according to people familiar with the matter. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026

While a number of lawmakers in both parties have long lamented the power of big tech, some were skeptical Tuesday as to whether the answer was to allow broadcasters to bulk up, too. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026

This versatile dairy staple can bulk up a breakfast smoothie, anchor a marinade for lamb and other meats, form the base of classic dips like tzatziki, and transform ice pops into high-protein, healthy desserts—adding tang, tenderness, and creaminess along the way. —Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for bulk up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup