Fill an area with houses or other buildings, urbanize. For example, We want to protect the wetlands against those who want to build up the area . [c. 1400]

"},{"id":"4effa20080539d285835053c","ordinal":2,"source":"american-heritage","text":"

Gradually develop, increase in stages. For example, I want to build up my endurance for the race . [Early 1700s]

"},{"id":"4effa20080539d285835053d","ordinal":3,"source":"american-heritage","text":"

Accumulate or collect, as in A lot of rust has built up on the farm machinery . [Mid-1900s]

"},{"id":"4effa20080539d285835053e","ordinal":4,"source":"american-heritage","text":"

Increase, strengthen, develop toward, as in The sound built up until it was nearly deafening , or His argument was building up to a grand climax . [c. 1930]

"},{"id":"4effa20080539d285835053f","ordinal":5,"source":"american-heritage","text":"

Establish or enhance a reputation; praise or flatter. For example, Months before the official campaign could begin, they had been building up the senator's image . [c. 1930]

"}],"id":"4effa20080539d2858350540","ordinal":1}],"slug":"build-up","source":"american-heritage","type":"idiom"}],"type":"idiom"},{"entries":[{"createDate":"2010-07-27T13:51:42Z","headword":{"normalizedForm":"build up","standardForm":"build up"},"id":"4c4ee46e000000001b00ec04","lang":"en","modifyDate":"2010-07-27T13:51:42Z","ngrams":{"allLetters":false,"forward":"buildup","groups":[" ","b","d","i","l","p","u","uu"],"numLetters":7,"reverse":"pudliub","subwordTokens":["build up","uild up","ild up","ld up","d up"," up","up","p"]},"normalizedLetter":"b","ordinal":1,"partOfSpeechBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"id":"4c91801a67363c987ebe8f26","ordinal":1,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"(tr) to construct gradually, systematically, and in stages"},{"examples":[{"sentence":"the murmur built up to a roar"}],"id":"4c50837ee490ea2fa2804303","ordinal":2,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"to increase, accumulate, or strengthen, esp by degrees"},{"id":"4c7b3ea17b40bb74442c591b","ordinal":3,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"(intr) to prepare for or gradually approach a climax"},{"id":"4c00264b1d92e6f550b3fc12","ordinal":4,"tags":[{"tag":"Science_and_Technology:Life_Sciences_and_Allied_Applications:Physiology","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"(tr) to improve the health or physique of (a person)"},{"id":"4cd7c3fa9a00f659d93eeeff","ordinal":5,"tags":[{"tag":"Science_and_Technology:Engineering:Civil_Engineering","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"(tr, usually passive) to cover (an area) with buildings"},{"examples":[{"sentence":"they built several actresses up into stars"}],"id":"4c1da774e2b1a77fc4ae9324","ordinal":6,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"(tr) to cause (a person, enterprise, etc) to become better known; publicize"}],"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"verb"},{"definitions":[{"examples":[{"sentence":"the build-up of industry"}],"id":"4cf2a802c8e967beb6fa6061","ordinal":1,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"progressive increase in number, size, etc"},{"id":"4c32c2651aad96899d00f900","ordinal":2,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"a gradual approach to a climax or critical point"},{"examples":[{"sentence":"the team's Olympic build-up"}],"id":"4cad63112d3f81a0f5acd550","ordinal":3,"tags":[{"tag":"Recreation_and_Sport:General_Sports:General_Sporting_Terms","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"the training and practice that constitutes the preparation for a particular event or competition"},{"id":"4c49e51ee09778963f66da60","ordinal":4,"tags":[{"tag":"General:General_Language:General_Language_Term","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"extravagant publicity or praise, esp in the form of a campaign"},{"id":"4c509f6989de11f09c213240","ordinal":5,"tags":[{"tag":"Social_Science_and_History:Military","type":"subject-field"}],"text":"military the process of attaining the required strength of forces and equipment, esp prior to an operation"}],"ordinal":2,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"slug":"build-up","source":"collins","type":"british"}],"type":"british"}],"meta":{"arg":"build-up","requestId":"rEQyb6Xn6Dv_fyx8FPt7f","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"lunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"build up","slug":"build-up"},{"displayForm":"buildup","slug":"buildup"},{"displayForm":"built-up","slug":"built-up"},{"displayForm":"bid-up","slug":"bid-up"},{"displayForm":"buildout","slug":"buildout"},{"displayForm":"build","slug":"build"},{"displayForm":"build in","slug":"build-in"},{"displayForm":"build on","slug":"build-on"},{"displayForm":"builder","slug":"builder"},{"displayForm":"building","slug":"building"}],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"build up","slug":"build-up"},{"displayForm":"buildup","slug":"buildup"},{"displayForm":"built-up","slug":"built-up"},{"displayForm":"built up","slug":"built-up"},{"displayForm":"build upon","slug":"build-upon"},{"displayForm":"building up","slug":"building-up"},{"displayForm":"bound-up","slug":"bound-up"},{"displayForm":"build","slug":"build"},{"displayForm":"build in","slug":"build-in"},{"displayForm":"build on","slug":"build-on"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"build-up"},"requestId":"F3zbvWphgROkbPQAeg_OG","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

build up

Example Sentences

Related Words