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
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
The firm believes Bill Holdings' revenue growth will exceed expectations and is bullish on the recent share buildup by activist shareholders.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Trump hasn't brought the policy discipline that Beijing has displayed in building up its own manufacturing base.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buildup
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Use a microfiber mop with a long handle to easily dust baseboards to prevent buildup.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
The firm believes Bill Holdings' revenue growth will exceed expectations and is bullish on the recent share buildup by activist shareholders.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Still betting on this legacy, which has been built up so well in the past.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Trump hasn't brought the policy discipline that Beijing has displayed in building up its own manufacturing base.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buildup
Cite this Entry
“Buildup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buildup. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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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