Standard Lemma guide

buildup

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈbɪldʌp/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B IH1 L D AH2 P Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An accumulation; an increase; a gradual development.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Snow buildup on roads makes for hazardous driving.
  • There was a buildup of pressure in the boiler.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The construction of a composite core to repair a damaged tooth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: dentistry, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the act of building up an accumulation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I envied his rapid buildup of assets
  • a military buildup in preparation for the invasion

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accumulation, accrual, accruement

Narrower terms: deposit, deposition

4

noun

Meaning 4

highly favorable publicity and praise

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his letter of recommendation gave her a terrific buildup

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: promotion, publicity, promotional material, packaging

5

noun

Meaning 5

the result of the process of accumulation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the buildup of leaves blocked the drain pipes

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accretion, accumulation

History

Etymology

Deverbal from build up.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kasauma — accumulation
  • Finnish: kasautuma — accumulation
  • Finnish: keräytymä — accumulation
  • Finnish: kertymä — accumulation
  • French: accumulation — accumulation
  • French: affluence — accumulation
  • German: Ansammlung — accumulation
  • German: Aufbau — accumulation
  • German: Anstieg — accumulation
  • German: Zunahme — accumulation
  • German: schrittweise Entstehung — accumulation
  • German: allmähliche Entwicklung — accumulation
  • German: langsames Anwachsen — accumulation
  • Polish: nagromadzenie się — accumulation
  • Polish: akumulacja — accumulation
  • Romanian: acumulare — accumulation
  • Spanish: prolegómeno — accumulation
  • Spanish: preámbulo — accumulation
  • Spanish: exordio — accumulation
  • Spanish: proemio — accumulation
  • Spanish: prolegómenos — accumulation
  • Swedish: ansamling — accumulation
  • Swedish: ackumulation — accumulation
  • Turkish: artış — accumulation
  • Turkish: büyüme — accumulation
  • Turkish: gelişme — accumulation
  • Turkish: geliştirme — accumulation