bulk up

VERB

expand

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bolster broaden develop enlarge grow increase open spread swell widen

STRONG

aggrandize amplify bloat burgeon detail diffuse dilate distend elaborate embellish explicate fatten heighten hike inflate lengthen magnify mount multiply mushroom pad piggyback prolong protract pyramid stretch thicken unfold unfurl unravel unroll wax

WEAK

beef up blow up fan out fill out open out outspread puff up slap on soup up spread out stretch out tack on upsurge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

close compress decrease diminish end halt hide hinder lessen narrow reduce restrict shrink stop

STRONG

abbreviate contract curtail deflate fall lower shorten shrivel simplify tangle thin withhold

WEAK

abridge

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Directors Guild, led by its president Christopher Nolan, reportedly entered negotiations in hopes of improving conditions to create new jobs, bulk up its health fund, and increase protections against generative AI.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

The offer kicks off a new round of consolidation in the country's banking sector, as firms look to bulk up for competing on a European scale.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

In a blog post last week, Google encouraged enterprises to bulk up their cybersecurity measures to avoid getting left behind.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Raine is betting that Kontoleon’s relationships and expertise will bulk up its tech investing and advisory abilities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Instead, she had another year, maybe, to bulk up enough to compete against hundreds of others for openings in heavy crew.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

bulk up

Example Sentences

Related Words