bodybuilding

noun

body·​build·​ing ˈbä-dē-ˌbil-diŋ How to pronounce bodybuilding (audio)
: the developing of the body through exercise and diet
specifically : the developing of the physique for competitive exhibition
bodybuilder noun

Examples of bodybuilding in a Sentence

She's been doing competitive bodybuilding for a few years now.
Recent Examples on the Web The agent received back an Instagram photograph of a muscular man and a muscular woman posing at a bodybuilding expo in Las Vegas. Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Mapplethorpe photographed her naked in bodybuilding poses, but also in softer stances. Penelope Green, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023 Having previously pursued bodybuilding in India (officially quitting in 2016) and growing up with an artist father, the designer, originally from Kerala and later studying in London in 2017, is particularly fascinated by the human body’s contours. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2023 In the world of bodybuilding, many people use testosterone injections to enhance their performance and achieve better results. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2023 TikTok has become a key marketing channel for vendors promoting steroids and other bodybuilding drugs to millions of the app’s users, according to a report released Thursday that the social media company disputes. Haleluya Hadero, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2023 Women’s bodybuilding was still in its infancy, and women’s fitness had not yet become a cultural phenomenon. Penelope Green, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023 Shaquille O’Neal might just be ready for his next career move: bodybuilding. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2023 By utilizing testosterone injections tailored for bodybuilding purposes, The Dry Bulk provides bodybuilders with the means to attain significant dry muscle mass gains. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bodybuilding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bodybuilding was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near bodybuilding

Cite this Entry

“Bodybuilding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodybuilding. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

bodybuilding

noun
body·​build·​ing ˈbäd-ē-ˌbil-diŋ How to pronounce bodybuilding (audio)
: the developing of the body through exercise and diet
bodybuilder
-ˌbil-dər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bodybuilding

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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