1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
static electricity built up on the cat's fur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to gain
to gradually increase in
the roller coaster built up momentum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass
evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number
he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in promotion
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of build up
Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Coronary heart disease occurs when fatty deposits called plaque build up in the heart’s arteries, preventing them from delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Angela Haupt, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
When Ronald Reagan first took office, his administration launched a massive nuclear buildup and deployed intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe, arguing that Americans were falling behind the Soviets in the Cold War.
—Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for build up
Verb
Adding pantry sugar to vases of roses is not recommended because bacteria can build up quickly.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Coronary heart disease occurs when fatty deposits called plaque build up in the heart’s arteries, preventing them from delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Some people benefit from knowing their coronary artery calcium score, for example, which is produced by a low-dose CT scan that detects calcium buildup in the heart’s arteries.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
When Ronald Reagan first took office, his administration launched a massive nuclear buildup and deployed intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe, arguing that Americans were falling behind the Soviets in the Cold War.
—Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for build up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for build up
Verb
-
The program will start with 3,000 volunteers to be selected next summer and will gradually increase to 10,000 per year by 2030.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Allowing its use on these two common crops will drastically expand how much is applied and increase harm, advocates say.—
Michael Phillis,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Local polls had consistently projected that no single party would gain a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition government.—
GRANT PECK,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The analyst also expects MongoDB to gain from higher consumption, driven by rising enterprise workloads.—
TipRanks,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During a subsequent conversation with Humpal and an onsite investigation, DNR staff determined the spill was coming from the west side of the operation where snow melt and a broken waterline caused more water to accumulate.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
10 Feb. 2026
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The trust accumulated over those projects was what gave both Netflix and Honnold the confidence to mount a spectacle as daring as a rope-less skyscraper climb captured on live TV.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For many schools, that means expanding technical education classes, building partnerships with local businesses, and getting creative with transporting teens — some just on the cusp of learning to drive — to part-time work.—
Carley Lanich,
IndyStar,
10 Feb. 2026
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Powered by rapid advances in embodied intelligence, China’s humanoid robots are advancing rapidly, expanding their potential roles in both industrial settings and home environments.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Cody Powers said that his mother wore State Farm sweatshirts and T-shirts and entered every promotion the company offered.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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The moves come a week into the tenure of CEO Michael Fiddelke, who joined the company in 2003 as an intern — and whose promotion has been met with skepticism by investors who were hoping for some outside blood and, with it, fresh ideas.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That leads to high temperatures, which create a glowing protostar due to the rapid (kinetic) motion of the internal gas particles, and eventually, after a few tens of millions of years, the core temperatures rise high enough (above 4 million K or so) that nuclear fusion of hydrogen begins.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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The information will be incorporated into the NEMO ocean model, which forms part of the UK Earth System Model, improving predictions as polar ice loss accelerates with rising global temperatures.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And as traders bought more, the gains gathered steam, resulting in skyrocketing prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Several dozen demonstrators also gathered at Temple and Alameda streets near the federal building, and a broadcast report said police issued a dispersal order there.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Senate’s bill would tie some community development grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to housing production, offering bonuses to local governments that accelerate homebuilding while reducing funding for those that fall behind.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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His move to the Sandringham estate was accelerated after the latest batch of Epstein files were released, and after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen waving to photographers and bystanders at Windsor Castle, as if nothing had happened.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Build up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/build%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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