straighten up
phrasal 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
Deadlifts involve lifting a weight (typically a barbell) from the ground by bending at the hips and knees, keeping your back flat, then straightening up to a standing position.
—
Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024
Zoom in: Although prices have been rising modestly all week, oil traders straightened up this morning after President Biden acknowledged the possibility.
—Pete Gannon, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Auto Frame uses generative AI in a less fun, but arguably more useful, way by automatically cropping, straightening up and realigning an existing photo to better emphasize the subject.
—Paul Monckton, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
The show followed an Instagram-famous organizing company as its two founders straightened up Reese Witherspoon’s closet and Khloé Kardashian’s garage and Jordana Brewster’s refrigerator, among other cluttered storage areas of the rich and fabulous.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024
Providing assistance around the house like taking the dog out for a walk or straightening up can also be a big help.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Hello Alfred positioned itself as a twice-weekly concierge for your house, picking up dry cleaning, straightening up, and delivering groceries for a $99 a month fee.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Let cosmic energy fill you with motivation -- potentially someone will visit as a reason to straighten up, or your efforts could all be out of self-care.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2023
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.
Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024
Zoom in: Although prices have been rising modestly all week, oil traders straightened up this morning after President Biden acknowledged the possibility.
—Pete Gannon, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Auto Frame uses generative AI in a less fun, but arguably more useful, way by automatically cropping, straightening up and realigning an existing photo to better emphasize the subject.
—Paul Monckton, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
The show followed an Instagram-famous organizing company as its two founders straightened up Reese Witherspoon’s closet and Khloé Kardashian’s garage and Jordana Brewster’s refrigerator, among other cluttered storage areas of the rich and fabulous.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024
Providing assistance around the house like taking the dog out for a walk or straightening up can also be a big help.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Hello Alfred positioned itself as a twice-weekly concierge for your house, picking up dry cleaning, straightening up, and delivering groceries for a $99 a month fee.
—BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Let cosmic energy fill you with motivation -- potentially someone will visit as a reason to straighten up, or your efforts could all be out of self-care.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2023
Dictionary Entries Near straighten up
Cite this Entry
“Straighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20up. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share