builds up

present tense third-person singular of build up
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as in accumulates
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 builds up Eventually that carbon will begin to fuse into neon, then the neon will fuse into magnesium, and so on up the periodic table until iron builds up in the core. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026 This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 Spring cleaning is the perfect time to tackle the bathroom — that one room where clutter builds up fast and organization falls apart even faster. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 Over time, the negative marks from debt relief will carry less weight as your positive history builds up. Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026 When ice builds up, the birds can no longer maintain flight and are forced to land. Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 By overlooking particle motion, these models may underestimate how quickly damage builds up inside real-world batteries. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026 Vastnaut One includes motors positioned at the knees that help absorb impact as the foot lands, reducing the stress that typically builds up over long descents. New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026 The residue left behind by liquid fabric softeners builds up over time, creating a water-repellent barrier on fibers. Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for builds up
Verb
  • Leaders should ask whether a new location grows the customer base, deepens existing relationships, or increases purchase frequency or spending enough to offset channel substitution.
    Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But the price of doing so is constantly rising, as technology increases the range and magnitude of horrible possibilities.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Stripe gains a live and unusually broad view of which models OpenRouter customers choose and how those workloads shift week to week.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Luis takes him under his wing at the New York City hospital to learn life-saving techniques as the teen gains an interest in the medical field.
    Kirsten Acuna, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Following the successful first model, this iteration will feature binned A19 Pro chips, repurposed from iPhone 17 Pro production, which dictates its release timeline as chip stock accumulates.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The autopsy also found Martinez suffered pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and brain.
    Perry Vandell, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This new effort expands on individual airline trials to try mitigating contrails across an entire flight corridor.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Under the new partnership, the companies will work together to develop, finance and produce original features, formalizing an ongoing creative relationship as Watch This Ready expands its slate across independent and studio-backed projects.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Junior quarterback Dalton Hastings, a transfer last year from San Clemente, rises from the junior varsity level to team with some intriguing skill players.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2026
  • That figure rises to 42 percent among Gen Z and millennials, compared with 22 percent among Gen X and older respondents.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Each gets elaborated across several songs, gathers associations along the way, and finds its ultimate expression in the final two tracks.
    Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As the sun starts to drop over Monte Rosa, the group gathers again at the base of the rock.
    Adri Salido, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Flora started as a set of professional tools for creatives that accelerates workflows by combining top AI text, image, and video models.
    Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • While rising college-going rates helped university entrants grow to 640,000 over that period, the government projects that number will fall to about 510,000 by 2040 as demographic decline accelerates.
    Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Storm surge, swells and large waves will also be significant hazards irrespective of landfall.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • At closest approach the planet swells in apparent size, revealing dark surface markings, polar ice caps and occasional dust storms.
    Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Builds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/builds%20up. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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