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

Wilkinson allegedly showed up at the entrance to the building and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack, prompting the facility to go on lockdown as the SWAT team responded. —Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025

Colter, El Tovar's interior designer in addition to designing other historic buildings at Grand Canyon National Park, was asked to design a new lodge on the site of an aging hotel. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025

There are more than 250 studios over four buildings, and shops will host artists. —Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Sep. 2025

The village is next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the backdrop to Jinu’s bad boy character-building flashbacks. —Ali Wunderman, Vogue, 24 Sep. 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