built up

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.

North Korea, believing that Chinese-style economic reforms would endanger the absolute control of the Kim dynasty, built up a nuclear arsenal to shore up the regime’s power indefinitely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

The country has diversified its energy sources, including into renewables, and had built up its strategic petroleum reserve to a greater extent than others, giving it some extra cushion.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

To be sure, U.S. households are no longer flush with the excess savings built up during the pandemic era.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Beatrice Gomberg has built up a following of more than 180,000 followers on TikTok, where she posts under the handle antiplasticlady.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

In this way we built up a list of people we knew to be in on the plot—guardians and students whom we declared our sworn enemies.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro