beefing (up)

verb

present participle of beef (up)
1
as in strengthening
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force beefed up the walls with iron bars

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intensifying
to make markedly greater in measure or degree will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beefing (up)
  1. strengthening
  2. intensifying
  3. hardening
  4. deepening
  5. enhancing
  6. heightening
  7. stepping up
Verb
  • The Rapid Repair Bond Builder+ Collection helps repair damage from heat, color and styling, strengthening strands from the inside out for healthier, shinier hair.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Weber's campaign has emphasized strengthening election security, protecting voting rights and maintaining access to voting.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of strengthening
Verb
  • But after an election that saw government corruption polling as a top issue for voters, questions about who has profited from political connections are intensifying.
    — Gabe Kaminsky, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • These baby boomers are intensifying the need for social and healthcare services, in-demand industries that have been battling severe labor shortages across the country.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of intensifying
Verb
  • Matt Pender is the vice president of undergrounding and system hardening for PG&E.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The October run identified 948, more than five times as many, despite three months of additional kernel hardening.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of hardening
Verb
  • The Middle East Connection The intrigue and involvement surrounding Ethiopia's deepening conflict is not limited to its immediate neighbors.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • As the track unfolds, violins gradually layer in, their melodies weaving around the vocals and deepening the emotional resonance.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of deepening
Verb
  • The organization said the center will help further its mission of saving more lives, increasing its capacity to provide more adoptable animals to the public, and enhancing its ability to further its commitment to offering a no-kill shelter.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The drone is equipped with advanced autonomous flight systems, and the platform enables operators to control multiple units simultaneously, enhancing mission efficiency and reducing manpower requirements.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of enhancing
Verb
  • The latter has pushed up inflation, increased living costs, as well as gas and oil prices, all while heightening macroeconomic instability.
    — Vogue Business, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
  • An accompanying video campaign features an intense electronic soundtrack by Frederick Sanchez, heightening its urban vibe.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of heightening
Verb
  • Miami never seriously threatened to close the gap down the stretch, with Reaves stepping up while Doncic rested to start the fourth quarter.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • As of late, plenty of airlines are stepping up their game by offering even more exclusive tiers aboard their planes—and that comes with some new menus, too.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stepping up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

beefing
beefing (up)
beefs
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Cite this Entry

“Beefing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefing%20%28up%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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