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
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In the new league format, picking up ‘easier’ points and beefing up goal difference before tougher ties with Barcelona and Wolfsburg is crucial. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Beyond actual material and structural improvements, Heimplanet beefs up the Mavericks Blue Ice package with new components and accessories. New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025 In the face of declining new student enrollment, Duval said the university should instead focus on beefing up its endowment and attracting undergraduates. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025 By the mid-50s, Chrysler beefed up the 331 cubic inch engines into 392 cubic inch V-8s, stuffing them beneath the hoods of New Yorkers and Imperials. Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beef up

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Cite this Entry

“Beef up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beef%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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