build up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of build upnext
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number static electricity built up on the cat's fur

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2
as in to gain
to gradually increase in the roller coaster built up momentum

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

buildup

2 of 2

noun

as in promotion

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of build up
Verb
Their bodies are built up in thick paint, their limbs modeled with short lateral strokes that wrap each arm into a solid cylinder. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 The debt has been building up for several months, according to copies of tax bills on the property, and now includes tens of thousands of dollars in penalties and interest, public records show. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
The swirls could also fuel the buildup of the sun’s magnetic energy, which drives solar flares and coronal mass ejections. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026 Kim also accused the United States of enabling Japan’s military buildup by supplying Tomahawk missiles, modifying vessels for their operation and supporting the missile tests. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for build up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for build up
  1. increase
  2. gain
  3. accumulate
  4. expand
  5. promotion
  6. rise
  7. gather
  8. accelerate
Verb
  • Corporate America has dramatically increased investment in women's sports over the past several years as leagues such as the WNBA and the National Women's Soccer League continue posting record attendance and television ratings.
    — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Houthis’ allies The Houthis are backed by Iran, which began increasing its aid to the group in 2014 as the civil war escalated and as its rivalry with Saudi Arabia intensified.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Huckabee noted that this partnership played out in a variety of areas, including military cooperation, especially as both worked to stop the Iranian regime from gaining nuclear arms.
    — Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The practice gained prominence under successive state administrations, with governments providing couples with wedding necessities and financial assistance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds can also accumulate in the testicles, Hrubec said.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The United States continued to accumulate legal power over the second half of the twentieth century.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of accumulate
Verb
  • Start the conversation, suggest the class, or invite someone into a plan that expands the room.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • South Africa's utility, Eskom, plans to develop a 1-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility to capture more value from its fast-expanding solar market and respond to changing electricity demand.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Noun
  • Over time, however, retailers may begin evaluating whether certain promotions, bundles or low-ticket offers create an outsized number of cash adjustments.
    — Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Occasionally, a dealership offers a service promotion such as lifetime free oil changes funded by the dealership.
    — Sean Tucker, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of promotion
Verb
  • Eliminating the tax credit didn’t kill the EV market entirely, however, and EV sales in the US actually rose 15% from the first quarter to the second quarter of this year.
    — Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Exports of high-tech items surged nearly 41% in January-July from the same period the year before, while shipments of vehicles jumped 55% and overall exports of electronics and machinery rose 26%.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • The clubs use that data, as well as additional information gathered through other testing methods, to aid in the management of the training loads and performance of their athletes.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • People gather at Edge at Hudson Yards in Manhattan in New York City during a 90% partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 in New York City.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of gather
Verb
  • Despite their mass, the mammals do know how to accelerate in water and on land.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In 2020, scientists found that combining snail slime from a common garden snail with gold nanoparticles helped accelerate wound healing and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties in mice.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerate

Browse Nearby Words

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build up
buildup
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Cite this Entry

“Build up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/build%20up. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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