bulk up

verb

bulked up; bulking up; bulks up

intransitive verb

: to gain weight especially by becoming more muscular

transitive verb

: to cause to bulk up

Examples of bulk up in a Sentence

she bulked up her hair with one hand as she reached for the shears with the other
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Instead, focus on bulking up the dish with additional ingredients like beans, tomatoes, or vegetables to help balance the heat without compromising taste. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024 The Lynx have since bulked up their athletic training staff, which now includes former Minnesota Vikings and Twins personnel. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024 That includes improving shelter facilities, bulking up the housing supply and reducing the number of people sleeping outdoors, among other areas of focus. Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 16 Aug. 2024 The retailer has bulked up its offering of gift items, added more party dresses and started to sell a wider range of decorations, including Christmas trees, lawn ornaments and wrapping paper. Melissa Repko, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bulk up 

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulk up was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near bulk up

Cite this Entry

“Bulk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulk%20up. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!