1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
static electricity built up on the cat's fur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in growing (in)
to gradually increase in
the roller coaster built up momentum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accumulating
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass
evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in expanding
to make greater in size, amount, or number
he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of building up
Amid the uncertainty, Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said retailers have been cautious about building up inventories.
—
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Long is in the process of building up to full fitness following his return from Achilles surgery.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The divisions underscore the West’s challenges in combating China; following decades of building up its supply chains, Beijing now controls 90% of global processing.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Aside from building up a slight static charge, the Artemis 2 commander said the flywheel was impressive.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Helping the club’s cause was Schlittler, who was expectedly restricted to 68 pitches after a spring training back/lat injury prevented him from fully building up.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
This person suggested that the legislation could become more powerful if combined with local streamer content quotas, building up a more holistic framework that would support commissions from all players.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
In the earliest of these changes, a tangled version of a protein called tau starts building up in a tiny region deep in the brain involved in sleep, attention and alertness, called the locus coeruleus.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
That desire has been building up within Lebanon among very different population groups, including the other political parties.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Long is in the process of building up to full fitness following his return from Achilles surgery.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The divisions underscore the West’s challenges in combating China; following decades of building up its supply chains, Beijing now controls 90% of global processing.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Aside from building up a slight static charge, the Artemis 2 commander said the flywheel was impressive.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Helping the club’s cause was Schlittler, who was expectedly restricted to 68 pitches after a spring training back/lat injury prevented him from fully building up.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
This person suggested that the legislation could become more powerful if combined with local streamer content quotas, building up a more holistic framework that would support commissions from all players.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
In the earliest of these changes, a tangled version of a protein called tau starts building up in a tiny region deep in the brain involved in sleep, attention and alertness, called the locus coeruleus.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
That desire has been building up within Lebanon among very different population groups, including the other political parties.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up
Verb
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This feeling of stasis is made all the more worrying by Ukraine’s increasing ability to strike inside Russia itself.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Verdier says the increasing regulation in the car industry and the push to move away from fossil fuels are part of the reason why Ferrari is so enthusiastic about this project.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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They'd be heralded not by rippling explosions or flash frozen corpses floating against a tapestry of stars, but instead by oxygen, almost imperceptibly slipping away or radiation slowly accumulating in our cells over years.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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But the unpaid bills kept accumulating, and no new accounts were made.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Officials said the department is expanding coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services to include parents above that threshold.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
That means expanding solar on city facilities and exploring innovative energy options to reduce emissions and long-term costs.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Sentiment was hurt by the rising price of gas caused by the war, according to survey director Joanne Hsu.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
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Our teachers are making an impact every day while working with increasing local demands, rising expectations, and with less state funding.—
Clinton McCracken,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
Verb
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One approach gaining support is to slow the displacement of workers with new taxes on AI services and investments.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Investigators determined that Skuce hired Logan Delp to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation with his child.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Use in hydrogen transportation The five-metal nanocrystals have proven effective in accelerating ammonia decomposition, a process vital for the hydrogen energy economy.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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This ranges from accelerating road and sidewalk repairs to regularly cleaning our stormwater systems to prevent avoidable tragedies like the 2024 floods.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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More recently, the DIAN network has helped researchers assess the drugs' side effects, which include swelling and bleeding in the brain.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
7 May 2026
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According to both sources, treatment includes resting the wrist and thumb, applying ice to help with swelling and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Doing so, officials say, helps protect not only those rolling up their sleeves but those who cannot get vaccinated, such as the very youngest children.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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Hospitals like Children’s Mercy, one of only 28 stand-alone children’s hospitals in the country, are increasingly rolling up pediatric care over wider geographic regions.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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