beef
verb
beefed; beefing; beefs
: to increase or add substance, strength, or power to
—usually used with up
… money to beef up its staff of professional economists …—
John Fischer
John Fischer
: complain
always beefing about something
Examples of beef in a Sentence
She's always beefing about something.
he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined
Recent Examples on the Web
Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Country star Kacey Musgraves is currently beefing with a fat internet activist who is mad at her because Walmart doesn't sell any of her newest line of clothing in plus sizes.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
As herself — well, a haughty, no-nonsense version of herself who evidently has beef with Streep's Runway editor-in-chief — Gaga faces off with the Oscar winner just before the Italian fashion show performance.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
When the part of Season 2’s Austin came his way, Melton jumped at the chance to play one of the series’ beefing leads.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beef
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Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Country star Kacey Musgraves is currently beefing with a fat internet activist who is mad at her because Walmart doesn't sell any of her newest line of clothing in plus sizes.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
As herself — well, a haughty, no-nonsense version of herself who evidently has beef with Streep's Runway editor-in-chief — Gaga faces off with the Oscar winner just before the Italian fashion show performance.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
When the part of Season 2’s Austin came his way, Melton jumped at the chance to play one of the series’ beefing leads.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beef
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Cite this Entry
“Beef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beef. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beef
1 of 2 noun
1
: the flesh of a steer, cow, or bull
2
: a steer, cow, or bull especially when fattened for food
3
beeflike
adjective
-ˌlīk
beef
2 of 2 verb1
: to add weight, strength, or power to
—usually used with up
beef up the staff
2
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