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
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
Analysts have observed that Moscow has been building up reserves and its operations are expected to gain tempo as the spring warmth dries the terrain.
—ABC News, 20 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
As Connecticut has been rolling up budget surpluses since Lamont took office in 2019, some lawmakers say the state needs to release money that has been building up through the years.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Analysts have observed that Moscow has been building up reserves and its operations are expected to gain tempo as the spring warmth dries the terrain.
—ABC News, 20 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
As Connecticut has been rolling up budget surpluses since Lamont took office in 2019, some lawmakers say the state needs to release money that has been building up through the years.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up
Verb
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Adrian Meyer, Christie’s global head of private sales, outlined one idea for the increasing popularity of the sales channel.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Highlighting the industry’s growing needs, demand for highly functional textile solutions is increasing across sectors, driven by rising investment in security, defense and disaster response.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two Chakram engine prototypes completed eight successful hot-fire tests, accumulating more than 470 seconds of total run time without any discernible damage to the engine hardware, the company said.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
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The researchers examined lithium trapped inside cracks and found no evidence that lithium was accumulating ahead of the dendrite tip.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From global dishes to comfort food classics, many supermarkets now offer — and are expanding — buffet-style prepared foods that rival takeout in both variety and convenience.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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While the business itself operates within the expanding private credit market, an asset class that has drawn significant institutional capital in recent years, the partnership behind it remains its most distinctive feature.—
NIa Bowers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s why David Gallo’s setting, a vista of a fragile boarding house nearly consumed by the rising, sun-blotting, industrial landscape of Pittsburgh, works so effectively here.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
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After a faulty cooling system was left to disrepair, rising temperatures resulted in an explosion with the equivalent force of 70-100 tons of TNT.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Broadnax's case is gaining national attention for what his attorneys say was an unfair trial that saw prosecutors eliminate almost every potential Black juror and use Broadnax's own rap lyrics against him.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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For one, Palestine by Joe Sacco, which found its way onto academic syllabi before gaining steam as a collected volume of graphic reporting.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means it could get certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an ultralight aircraft by the end of this year, thereby accelerating Volocopter’s long-running efforts to get the VoloCity air taxi to market.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
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This is a quickly accelerating idea not beloved by tech companies.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition to strong margins, sales, and earnings, GE Vernova delivered robust $13 billion in order growth, swelling its backlog to $163 billion.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
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There had been some swelling in the final stages of her pregnancy, but her doctors weren't concerned.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The San Antonio Spurs made quite the fashion statement on Sunday, April 19, when arriving to Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, rolling up to their home Frost Bank Center in matching suits for the eventual 111-98 win.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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The company is a portfolio holding of Osceola Capital, a private equity firm based in Tampa that specializes in taking a platform company and acquiring or rolling up smaller competitors.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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