building

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

Synonyms

• structure
• house
• edifice

Examples of building in a Sentence

My office is in that small brick building.

We bought the land for building.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Scotiabank Saddledome has been the home for the Calgary Flames since October 1983 and is the NHL’s second-oldest building behind Madison Square Garden in New York City, home of the New York Rangers. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

Since the city does not own the adjacent former Staples building, which Spirit Halloween is leasing, there are no plans for that building to be part of the redevelopment, said Middletown Vice Mayor Steve West. —Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025

The woman’s husband managed to climb through their apartment window and successfully leapt to the neighboring building. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing building

• apartment building
• building block
• building society
• sick building syndrome
• 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