building up

present participle of build up
1
2
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of building up While the petition is just the latest in an ongoing crusade to tame the streets, tension in the neighborhood is building up, and for good reason. Anne Kadet, Curbed, 29 May 2026 Brown is still building up his pitch count with his transition from the bullpen to the rotation, requiring high efficiency facing Major League Baseball’s best offense to give them that many outs. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026 According to Gabrielle Correale, Ground Up’s director of marketing, the shoe firm is responsible for building up each brand’s footwear category. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 15 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up
Verb
  • Eight years later, Loomis voters approved Measure C with more than 71% support, extending the existing tax without increasing the rate.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
  • Starting July 1, according to an SEC filing Thursday, his target annual bonus is rising to $9 million, and his target annual equity award increasing to $20 million.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Swalwell had been gaining in polls and racking up high-profile endorsements and his exit seemed to primarily benefit Becerra.
    Marisa Lagos, NPR, 6 June 2026
  • Issuance has also spread out, with seven of the top 10 sectors gaining share against both 2025 and their 10-year averages.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Immune cells here degraded old and damaged red blood cells, accumulating iron from the hemoglobin for a short period.
    Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
  • Attendance diminished in recent years as the Wizards tore down their roster in the hopes of accumulating draft picks in trades and losing enough games to win early picks via the annual draft lottery.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • According to Academy rules, the number of nominees in each category is determined by the volume of submissions, with the field expanding to a sixth lead or supporting nominee only once entries cross the 80-submission threshold.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
  • Educational institutions, workforce agencies, employers, libraries, and community organizations each play an important role in expanding access to these capabilities.
    Michael Edmondson, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • This year’s rodeo, held on August 7 and 8, is moving to the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee to accommodate rising attendance.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • Early arrivals bring rising excitement While airports have not yet seen the largest crowds expected for the tournament, excitement is already building among fans who have arrived early.
    Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Candidates who asked questions early, while the AI was still gathering information, were less likely to get offers.
    Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • Visitors and patrons say the appeal of the arts lies in the unique experience of gathering together in person.
    Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • This week, industry executives told me that generative AI adoption is accelerating as producers seek to meet rising content demand in the country’s $32 billion media and entertainment sector while navigating tighter budgets.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 11 June 2026
  • She and her non-English-speaking immigrant parents were impressed by a staff intent on accelerating learning and a safe, welcoming campus.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • The production carried a sense of scale, swelling with orchestral weight and emotional lift, framing the tournament as something larger than sport.
    Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • The American Breast Cancer Foundation urged men to be aware of any changes in their chest area, including nipple pain, lumps and swelling in the breast or underarm.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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