straighten up

verb

straightened up; straightening up; straightens up
Synonyms of straighten upnext
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
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.
Nothing makes an industry straighten up and fly right like a punch to the wallet. — Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 When applied to cleaning, the one-minute rule encourages easy ways to straighten up. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026 Word spreads that Sparks starter Kelsey Plum will be there soon and everyone straightens up. — Jade Chang, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 But Davis noticed Crawford, who is 6-foot-2, was having to use his first step to straighten up. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for straighten up

Rhymes for straighten up

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Browse Nearby Words

straighten out
straighten up
straight face
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Straighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on straighten up

Nglish: Translation of straighten up for Spanish Speakers

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