noun
Meaning 1
Misspelling of buildup.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, misspelling
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
build up
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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verb
Meaning 2
To erect; to construct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Near-synonym: build out
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: assemble, build, put together, artifice, betimber, build up, compile, construct, edify, erect, extruct, fabricate, fashion, form, knock up, make, manufacture, produce, put up, raise, rear, timber, upbuild, build out
Antonyms: take down, tear down, disassemble
verb
Meaning 3
To close up by building.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- to build up a door
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: close, close off, close up, cover, cover up, enclose, shut, shut in, shut off, shut up
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To accumulate: to increase incrementally or continually.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive, transitive
Examples
- Ever since the secretary left, the letters in my inbox have started to build up.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pile up, amass, heap up, accumulate, agglomerate, build up, cumulate, heap, mound, pile, rack up, stack, stack up, upheap
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To strengthen.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- They had to build up their fortress to protect against attack.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
In solitaire card games, to place a card over another card of lower value. (e.g., place 5♦ over 4♣)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: card-games, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: build down
verb
Meaning 7
enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- build up your savings
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: increase
verb
Meaning 8
change the use of and make available or usable
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- develop land
- The country developed its natural resources
- The remote areas of the country were gradually built up
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: develop
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: better, improve, amend, ameliorate, meliorate
Narrower terms: redevelop, settle
verb
Meaning 9
form or accumulate steadily
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
- Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: work up, build, progress
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: develop
verb
Meaning 10
bolster or strengthen
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- We worked up courage
- build up confidence
- ramp up security in the airports
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: work up, build, ramp up
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: increase
verb
Meaning 11
prepare oneself for a military confrontation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East
- troops are building up on the Iraqi border
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: arm, fortify, gird
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: rearm, re-arm, forearm
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Dutch: opstapelen — to accumulate
- Finnish: kasaantua — to accumulate
- Finnish: kasautua — to accumulate
- Finnish: kertyä — to accumulate
- French: s'accumuler — to accumulate
- French: s'entasser — to accumulate
- French: s'empiler — to accumulate
- German: sich ansammeln — to accumulate
- German: sich türmen — to accumulate
- Italian: accumulare — to accumulate
- Polish: kumulować się — to accumulate
- Polish: skumulować się — to accumulate
- Polish: gromadzić się — to accumulate
- Polish: zgromadzić się — to accumulate
- Polish: zbierać się — to accumulate
- Polish: zebrać się — to accumulate
- Russian: накапливаться (nakaplivatʹsja) — to accumulate
- Russian: скапливаться (skaplivatʹsja) — to accumulate
- Dutch: versterken — to strengthen
- Finnish: vahvistaa — to strengthen
- Finnish: varustaa — to strengthen
- Finnish: voimistaa — to strengthen
- French: renforcer — to strengthen
- German: aufbauen — to strengthen
- Irish: neartaigh — to strengthen
- Italian: rinforzare — to strengthen
- Polish: podbudowywać — to strengthen
- Polish: podbudować — to strengthen
- Russian: усилить (usilitʹ) — to strengthen
- Russian: укрепить (ukrepitʹ) — to strengthen