build

1 of 2

verb

ˈbild 

built ˈbilt  ; building

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 them

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

2

a

: to progress toward a peak (as of intensity)

build to a climax

b

: to develop in extent

a crowd building

see also:

build a fire under build into build on

build

2 of 2

noun

plural builds

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 of build

Verb

• construct
• assemble
• make
• create

Noun

• physique
• shape
• frame
• form
• figure

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 company is building its first European plant in Hungary, and is bidding to buy a Nissan-Mercedes-Benz plant in Mexico. —semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

The robot is built mainly from liquid crystal elastomers, a rubber-like material that changes shape when exposed to light. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026

Noun

The new line includes 14 dedicated stations staffed by vehicle line technicians to enable repeatable builds, process verification, and production optimization. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026

Police described Jordin as Black, 4 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighing 110 pounds with a slim build. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bilden, buylden, bulden "to make one's home (in a place), dwell, put together, construct," going back to Old English byldan, metathetic variant of bytlian, bytlan "to build, erect," derivative of botl, boðl "dwelling, house, hall" — more at boodle

Note: The complex development of this word in Middle English dialects is summarized in Oxford English Dictionary, third edition. Modern English has [ɪ] in this word, though a diphthongal pronunciation of the vowel, from lengthening before a cluster and diphthongization by the Great Vowel Shift—resulting in a rhyme with child and mild—was a common realization in Early Modern English. The current spelling with ui continues Middle English buylden, with the graph uy denoting a high front rounded vowel [y]/[y:] passed on from Old English—a preservation characteristic of west Midland and southwest dialects of Middle English. In general [y]/[y:] in these dialects did not unround until the fifteenth century, but in build a pronunciation with [y], which had spread beyond its original dialect base, persisted for some speakers into Early Modern English.

Noun

derivative of build entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing build

• build a bridge
• build a fire under
• build around
• build consensus
• build in
• build into
• build on
• build onto
• build-out
• build up
• jerry-build

Rhymes for build

• billed
• chilled
• drilled
• filled
• frilled
• gild
• grilled
• guild
• killed
• milled
• rilled
• shrilled

Kids Definition

build

1 of 2 verb

ˈbild 

built ˈbilt  ; building

1

: to make by putting together parts or materials : construct

build a house

build a bridge

2

: to produce or create gradually

build a winning team

build up your strength

3

: to move or grow toward a peak

excitement was building

build

2 of 2 noun

: form or kind of structure

especially : physique