1
: something produced by building up
fluid buildup in the lungs
2
: the act or process of building up
built up; building up; builds up
1
: to develop gradually by increments
building up endurance
built up a library
2
: to promote the health, strength, esteem, or reputation of
: to accumulate or develop appreciably
Examples of buildup in a Sentence
Noun
There is a big traffic buildup on the highway.
You should clean the mechanism regularly to prevent buildup of dirt.
Both players were given big buildups before the game.
Verb
static electricity built up on the cat's fur
the roller coaster built up momentum
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Pressure wash away stains and dirt buildup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Andy Jones, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Toxins build up and start to destroy the kidneys and liver.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buildup
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Noun
That will mark the end of the Artemis 2 mission but the start of a new chapter — the buildup to Artemis 3.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Pressure wash away stains and dirt buildup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
The French side are not the only team to have caused Liverpool problems when trying to build up against a high man-to-man press, but having a Wirtz-type profile in your team can help considerably.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Toxins build up and start to destroy the kidneys and liver.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for buildup
Cite this Entry
“Buildup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buildup. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buildup
noun
build·up
ˈbil-ˌdəp 
1
: something produced by building up
2
: the act or process of building up
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