bulking up

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The process of gaining muscle and weight through exercise and increased eating, especially in bodybuilding.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: 'Bulking up takes months.' It can also be the -ing form of the phrasal verb 'bulk up'.

   Patterns

   • bulking up for something
   • a bulking-up phase

   He spent the winter bulking up for the spring wrestling season.

   Bulking up requires eating more calories than you burn.

   Her coach designed a bulking-up plan with heavy weights and extra protein.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   The act of becoming larger or more powerful, especially of an organization or country.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively for armies, companies, or departments that add people or equipment.

   Patterns

   • bulking up on something
   • bulking up staff

   The company is bulking up its sales team before the launch.

   The army is bulking up along the border.

   Some critics say the government is bulking up its security forces too quickly.

Word forms

Common combinations

bulk up for a competition

Athletes often bulk up for a competition and then lose weight.

bulk up on protein

He bulked up on protein shakes and chicken breast.

bulking-up phase

During the bulking-up phase, she lifted heavy weights four times a week.

bulk up quickly

You can't bulk up quickly without eating a lot.

Synonyms and how they differ

gaining mass

A more neutral phrase used in fitness; it focuses on muscle size rather than overall weight.

building muscle

Emphasizes muscle growth specifically, while 'bulking up' often includes gaining some fat too.

Opposites

Word family

bulk noun

Large size or mass, especially of the body.

bulky adjective

Large and heavy, often hard to move or wear.

Commonly confused: bulking up or bulk buying?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “bulking up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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