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Synonyms

straighten up

British  

verb

  1. to become or cause to become erect

  2. to reform or become reformed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

straighten up Idioms  
  1. Make tidy, as in Let's get this room straightened up. [Second half of 1800s]


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.

See Examples For:

Now, it is helping the company straighten up its balance sheet—and getting its hands on a major business in return.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025

There shall be no more merriment, and in the words of Nat King Cole, it is time to straighten up and fly right.

From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2025

That caused Biden to straighten up to full attention.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 2, 2023

Gates’ first trip began in March to Poland, where he spent three weeks volunteering in animal shelters to walk dogs and straighten up warehouses.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 13, 2022

Mr. Randolph moved home again, and Trotter, taking time to rest every few minutes, began to straighten up the house.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

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