1
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
beefed up the walls with iron bars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intensify
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 beef (up)
Verb
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Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that Kyiv was working closely with the White House to strengthen its defensive capabilities, including its long-range capabilities.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025 -
Oakland voters, meanwhile, overwhelmingly favored establishing the commission in 2016 and strengthening its authority in 2020.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Padrino also accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
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And, as the first phase of his Gaza peace plan makes headway, the focus on the prospect of him winning is intensifying.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Keney innovations include RibbonFET, a new transistor architecture enabling efficient scaling, and PowerVia, a backside power delivery system enhancing energy flow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cal Fire helicopter pilots will be training over three nights, starting Thursday, in the Sacramento area using night-vision goggles to enhance their ability to fight wildfires in the dark.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The following year, several lawmakers were accused of failing to report income or disclose kickbacks, deepening public frustration.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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The board’s challenge lies in deepening their expertise while being intentional about protecting their bandwidth given the sheer volume of information and pace of change.—
Lara Abrash,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shifting regulatory expectations, heightened demands for transparency, economic volatility, and intensifying global competition are all contributing to unprecedented complexity and pressure in the boardroom.—
Lara Abrash,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
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Hints of unease momentarily heightened as the Spartans — deliberate and layered — went to work.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Beef (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beef%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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