buildup

play

noun build·up \ˈbild-ˌəp\

Definition of buildup

1 : something produced by building up fluid buildup in the lungs
2 : the act or process of building up

See buildup defined for English-language learners

See buildup defined for kids

Examples of buildup in a Sentence

There is a big traffic buildup on the highway.
You should clean the mechanism regularly to prevent buildup of dirt.
Both players were given big buildups before the game.

Recent Examples of buildup from the Web

Utility Dive noted earlier this month that Kemper’s gasifiers have suffered leaks and ash buildup.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Regulators suggest $7.5 billion coal gasifier facility give up, burn natural gas", 26 June 2017
Jaundice is usually related to the baby’s liver Jaundice, which occurs in up to 60% of newborns, occurs when a baby’s blood contains a buildup of bilirubin—a yellow-colored pigment that’s formed when red blood cells break down.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "6 Things to Know About Jaundice in Newborns", 21 June 2017
Mitchell, the former 6-foot-3 star guard for Louisville, wanted to focus on each workout in the buildup to the draft.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "2017 NBA draft | One regret for Donovan Mitchell nearing the biggest night of his career", 21 June 2017
Fisher also suffered from a fatty tissue buildup in the walls of her arteries, the Los Angeles County coroner's office reported.

— erin reimel, Glamour, "Coroner Releases Details About the Cause of Carrie Fisher's Death", 17 June 2017
Fast-forward to the present: Next week’s NBA Draft and the buildup to it have been hijacked by shameless self-promoter LaVar Ball.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Mayweather vs. McGregor: Make fun of the farce all you want, but you’ll be watching", 17 June 2017
Staff must check the water pumps and motors on fountains, and power wash structures to prevent algae buildup.

— by traci badalucco, kansascity, "It takes a village to beautify a town", 6 June 2017
Your affinity for action and movement feeds off of Mars’ influence and the buildup to this Sagittarius full moon.

— jodie layne, Allure, "The Best Beauty Product for Your Zodiac Sign This Week", 4 June 2017
The 1980s recovery was bolstered by heavy federal spending, and not only on the massive Reagan military buildup.

— jon talton, The Seattle Times, "Seattle, U.S. paths to recovery diverged", 3 June 2017

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

First Known Use of buildup

1926

BUILDUP Defined for English Language Learners

buildup

play

noun

Definition of buildup for English Language Learners

: an increase in something that occurs as time passes
: things that are said to cause people to feel excited about something (such as a future event) or someone (such as a performer)
: a series of things that lead to an important event or occurrence