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

Joseph Livreri and his brother Anthony Livreri pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery after being charged with bribing a former New York City buildings commissioner who was part of Eric Adams' Democratic administration. — Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026

Historic districts, landmark buildings, landmark areas are some of the most economically productive in the city. — David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026

My comment to that would be that the building has created a climatic condition that the grass does not have the ability to strengthen itself. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Earlier, in a downpour at daybreak, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top military officials stood outside and watched as a giant American flag was unfurled on the building struck by one of those planes a quarter-century ago. — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 11 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