buck up

verb

Definition of buck upnext
1
as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to encourage
to fill with courage or strength of purpose a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of buck up Signal flares shot into the social media sky are meant to jumpstart conversations with coaches needing to plug holes or buck up slouching fan bases. — Brian Davis, Houston Chronicle, 2 Jan. 2026 While waiting for help, stay bucked up inside your vehicle. — Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025 Defense gonna have to buck up yet again. — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 And then, over the course of the six episodes, Julie does encourage him to buck up at a little bit. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for buck up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buck up
  1. brighten
  2. encourage
  3. look up
  4. inspire
  5. glow
  6. bear up
  7. revive
Verb
  • Brightening Eye Gel $76 Designed to brighten, hydrate, and de-puff, Tata Harper’s soothing eye gel is one of my morning must-haves—and it’s also dermatologist approved.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Dalton also likes using it to deglaze a pan or brighten a sauce at the end of cooking.
    — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of brighten
Verb
  • Palestine Action founder Huda Ammori encouraged joining offshoot groups to circumvent the ban, the Telegraph reported.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Meta encourages its users to name their AIs—and encourages its AIs to think like humans.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • The messages were found during a State Bureau of Investigation probe into Elliott, who faces criminal charges for using Flock license plate readers to look up a plate for his friend from college.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • However, Kim suggested that these records could indicate that Van Gogh was repeatedly looking up and watching the pre-dawn sky, which could have led to him seeing this exact sky on July 22.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of look up
Verb
  • The $398 Very Sexy Shine Fantasy Bra is a separate retail version inspired by that runway piece.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Rogers encouraged attendees at the tour bus launch to inspire others to vote, too, with a story about a Detroit resident.
    — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of inspire
Verb
  • At night, the Sycamore trees glow with lantern light, inviting guests to indulge in late night cocktails and conversation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • With glowing bats, spiders and eyes, the lights accent the historic home with just the right touch.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • It can also be used as a bench, bearing up to 355 pounds.
    — Caitlyn Martyn may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • In 1970, the average Chinese woman was expected to bear up to six children throughout her lifetime.
    — Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Definition of bear up
Verb
  • Ethiopia and Eritrea revive old tensions and grievances Ethiopian authorities accuse the TPLF of seeking an alliance with Eritrea to destabilize Ethiopia, potentially bringing together enemies from the previous war.
    — KHALED KAZZIHA, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As hopes to revive it fizzled, enthusiasm to turn the corridor into a long-distance trail climbed.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of revive

Browse Nearby Words

bucks up
buck up
bucolic
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Cite this Entry

“Buck up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buck%20up. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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