build

verb

\ ˈbild

built\ˈbilt

\; building

Definition of build

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole : construct birds building a nest build new hospitals and schools the boat her father built

2 : to cause to be constructed a contractor who has built hundreds of homes

3 : to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base building a legal case against her built the organization from the ground up

4 : increase, enlarge helps build muscle build support for their candidate building friendships

intransitive verb

1 : to engage in building

2a : to progress toward a peak (as of intensity) build to a climax

b : to develop in extent a crowd building

build a fire under

: to stimulate to vigorous action

build into

: to make an integral part of build quality into the product

build on

: to use as a foundation building on past experience

build

noun

plural builds

Definition of build (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : form or mode of structure : make the boxy build of the car especially : bodily conformation of a person or animal a man of stocky build

2 : a version or iteration of a product or component We worked with several builds of the beta code, which was in itself instructive. Things that worked perfectly in one version stopped working at all in the next release. —Bill Machrone et al.

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about build

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Choose the Right Synonym for build

Verb

build, construct, and erect mean to make a structure. build is used for putting together several parts or materials to form something. Workers are building the house. construct is used for the designing of something and the process of fitting its parts together. Engineers constructed a system of dams across the river. erect is used for the idea of building something that stands up. The tower was erected many years ago.

Examples of build in a Sentence

Verb

The bridge was built in the 1890s. The planes were built in Germany. The organization helps build houses for poor families. A family of birds has built a nest on our roof. She started building a fire in the fireplace. He built a model airplane from a kit. You will need permission to build on your property. They are building a legal case against the tobacco industry. scientists building theories about how the universe began At college, you'll build friendships that will last a lifetime.

Noun

He is strong and muscular in build. a man of average build

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The other was Gibbs, his Super Bowl-building partner with the Redskins. — Bryce Miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Former Chargers GM Bobby Beathard could be most special NFL Hall inductee of all," 13 July 2018 His decapitated torso was found in a suitcase in an apartment building trash bin, also missing lower legs and hands. — NBC News, "Nevada execution in doubt after drug company sues to stop it," 11 July 2018 His decapitated torso was found in a suitcase in an apartment building trash bin, also missing lower legs and hands. — Ken Ritter, Time, "A Drug Company Is Suing to Stop Its Drug From Being Used in a Nevada Execution," 11 July 2018 His decapitated torso was found in a suitcase in an apartment building trash bin, also missing lower legs and hands. — Ken Ritter, The Seattle Times, "Drug company’s lawsuit could derail Nevada execution," 10 July 2018 Almost every other building downtown provides only units with one, two or three bedrooms. — Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, "Preleasing begins at Chicago's tallest all-residential downtown building," 10 July 2018 They have been rescheduled, and building staff will work out of Community High School District 117’s other high school, Antioch Community High School. — Emily K. Coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Electrical fire causes evacuation of Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa," 9 July 2018 Private companies see big potential in China’s surveillance build-out. — Paul Mozur, New York Times, "Inside China’s Dystopian Dreams: A.I., Shame and Lots of Cameras," 8 July 2018 Gagliano built a mechanism that would abruptly drop the plants by about a foot without harming them. — Katia Moskvitch, WIRED, "Slime Molds Remember—But Do They Learn?," 14 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In practice, the Ariel AG 55’s continuous build made the test’s 35-pound load feel significantly lighter—more like 25 pounds. — Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, "The Best Women’s Backpacking Packs," 13 July 2018 The Heat's starting forward two seasons ago, McGruder's 6-foot-5, 200-pound build is far more in line with that of a shooting guard. — Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "With Ellington back, how do Heat manage glut at shooting guard?," 13 July 2018 More: With Holocaust center's move, Union Terminal will, once more, be a refuge for survivors According to officials at the center, the Union Terminal model took 213 hours of build time and 16,872 LEGO bricks to make. — Chris Pugh, Cincinnati.com, "Union Terminal to be part of LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Columbus," 13 July 2018 Soon his handsome face and muscular build appeared on magazine covers. — Sasha Savitsky, Fox News, "'Damn Yankees!' star Tab Hunter dead at 86," 10 July 2018 Soon his handsome face and muscular build appeared on magazine covers. — Shawn Marsh, chicagotribune.com, "Actor Tab Hunter, star of 'Damn Yankees!' movie, dies age 86," 9 July 2018 Soon his handsome face and muscular build appeared on magazine covers. — NBC News, "Tab Hunter, star of 'Damn Yankees!' and gay icon, dies at 86," 9 July 2018 Twelve weeks to gut the building of all that was Macy’s and then in its place build bedrooms, install bathrooms and furnish a recreation room and cafeteria. — Terrence Mccoy, Washington Post, "The future of suburban homelessness? As malls empty, an old Macy’s becomes a homeless shelter.," 6 July 2018 Wednesday's release of Windows 10 Insider build 17704 was no exception: Microsoft retired its Sets UI again, updated the Windows 10 version of Skype, and began promoting a new Fonts Maker app. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Windows 10's big Insider build showcases Skype, a font maker and Task Manager tweaks," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'build.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.