beef up

phrasal verb

beefed up; beefing up; beefs up
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.
The deal will help Pfizer beef up and diversify its obesity drug pipeline after a string of setbacks, including its decisions to scrap two different pills over the past two years. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2025 That is to be determined since the Motion Picture Academy has also notably beefed up its global footprint in terms of recruiting members from around the world in recent years. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2025 However, the company has beefed up its crypto arm this year. Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025 Miami continues beefing up the trenches Nearly half of the class — 14 of 29 players — are either offensive or defensive linemen. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025 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 19 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beef up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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