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
Below a certain depth, however, pressure prevents gases from building up, and keeps the body from rising.
—
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The singer has spent the past 20 years building up one of the most successful music careers of all time, and she only recently got engaged at the age of 35 to fiancé Travis Kelce.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Smoke was building up inside as Balmer deployed the second incendiary device.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
It’s made with durable resin and has built-in ventilation to keep moisture from building up, so your backyard essentials don’t get moldy.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
During the speech, however, Kemp periodically deviated from building up Astra to hurling insults at several of his competitors in the launch industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
And OpenAI has been building up its own sales function.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
The same concern emerges in places like Haiti and Ecuador, as foreign mercenaries and drones are being drafted in at the expense of building up the local armed forces and the national police.
—Alia Brahimi, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The singer has spent the past 20 years building up one of the most successful music careers of all time, and she only recently got engaged at the age of 35 to fiancé Travis Kelce.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Smoke was building up inside as Balmer deployed the second incendiary device.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
It’s made with durable resin and has built-in ventilation to keep moisture from building up, so your backyard essentials don’t get moldy.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
During the speech, however, Kemp periodically deviated from building up Astra to hurling insults at several of his competitors in the launch industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
And OpenAI has been building up its own sales function.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
The same concern emerges in places like Haiti and Ecuador, as foreign mercenaries and drones are being drafted in at the expense of building up the local armed forces and the national police.
—Alia Brahimi, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up
Verb
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Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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The military is striking the boats at the same time the administration is applying increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The colder conditions will raise the potential for accumulating snow across parts of the Midwest and the Appalachians, including areas farther south and at lower elevations than usual, AccuWeather said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Detroit could also see accumulating snowfall from Sunday morning into midday, possibly affecting busy urban and highway traffic routes.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The concept is expanding into practice in the state as a solution to regional food distribution challenges.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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Future work will focus on integrating snow-deposition modeling with PV yield simulations to more accurately predict energy losses and on expanding analyses to more complex, uneven alpine terrain.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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There are trade-offs, of course—rising Obamacare premiums will harm people, too.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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Both consultants estimated that inflation in Caracas is currently running between 20% and 30% a month and is destined to keep rising as long as the bolivar depreciation continues.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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A week after a 27-10 road win at Syracuse, North Carolina turned in a dreadful first half against Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC), gaining only 47 total yards on its way to a 3-3 halftime tie.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The allegations contained in the recent NBA gambling indictment check the box of gaining widespread attention and headlines.—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dark energy was introduced as a placeholder force to explain this accelerating expansion.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The expansion rate of the universe may be slowing down, rather than accelerating at an ever-growing rate, a potentially groundbreaking new study has hinted.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Per BrightOcular, potential complications include infections, high pressure in the eye, glaucoma, inflammation of the iris, swelling in the cornea, loss of cells around the cornea, deterioration of the iris and more.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Arthritis refers to swelling in the joints.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even more, its comfortable band flexes with your body without rolling up or digging in.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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His right ankle was both dislocated and fractured, the brutal byproduct of Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown trying to make a tackle on Tampa Bay’s third offensive possession and rolling up into the back of Warner’s legs.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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