straighten up
verb
straightened up; straightening up; straightens up
1
: to make (something) organized or tidy : to put (something) in order
They straightened up the house after the party.
2
: to move the body to an upright position
Straighten up. There's no excuse for slouching.
3
US
: to improve in behavior
You need to straighten up, young man.
Examples of straighten up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nothing makes an industry straighten up and fly right like a punch to the wallet.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Toner says quickly straightening up pillows and neatly folding blankets before heading to bed instantly makes your living space feel tidy and inviting.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
But Davis noticed Crawford, who is 6-foot-2, was having to use his first step to straighten up.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
At first, the arrangement felt manageable and even pleasant, as the cousin helped with groceries, straightened up around the place, and seemed genuinely grateful.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025
Others helped with painting, straightening up around the house, sending cards of encouragement and more.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 31 Oct. 2025
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Toner says quickly straightening up pillows and neatly folding blankets before heading to bed instantly makes your living space feel tidy and inviting.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
But Davis noticed Crawford, who is 6-foot-2, was having to use his first step to straighten up.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
At first, the arrangement felt manageable and even pleasant, as the cousin helped with groceries, straightened up around the place, and seemed genuinely grateful.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025
Others helped with painting, straightening up around the house, sending cards of encouragement and more.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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