building

1 of 2

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling)

2

: the art or business of assembling materials into a structure

building

2 of 2

present participle of build entry 1

Synonyms of building

Noun

• structure
• house
• edifice

Examples of building in a Sentence

Noun

My office is in that small brick building.

We bought the land for building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary site and building plans for the arch on July 9. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026

Brady Corbet’s 2024 film The Brutalist was demonized for using AI to enhance the accents of Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, and for using the tech to create architectural drawings and buildings in the style of Brody’s character, László Tóth. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Two Rancho Cordova schools are undergoing multimillion-dollar modernization projects that will add classrooms, administration buildings and security upgrades. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The attacks damaged residential buildings, including two multistory blocks. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bildyng, buldyng, from bilden, buylden, bulden "to build entry 1" + -yng -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing building

• apartment building
• building block
• building society
• sick building syndrome
• team building
• world building

Rhymes for building

• gilding
• boatbuilding
• outbuilding
• rebuilding
• roadbuilding
• shipbuilding
• upbuilding
• bodybuilding

Kids Definition

building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a permanent structure built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity or for storage

an office building

2

: the art, work, or business of assembling materials into a structure