BUILDS UP Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

builds up

verb

present tense third-person singular of build up

as in increases

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number static electricity built up on the cat's fur

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Relevance

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as in gains

to gradually increase in the roller coaster built up momentum

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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

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as in expands

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

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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

Definition of increases

Verb

Brooks emphasizes that while Black art gains market attention, ownership among Black Americans remains limited due to a lack of knowledge.

— Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Turkey, already a NATO member, gains a larger market for its growing defense industry and additional strategic weight as tensions with Israel rise.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of gains

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

Definition of accumulates

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

Definition of expands

Verb

Add room and board, and the real average cost rises to roughly $16,000 — with the average student receiving close to $10,000 in grant aid to get there.

— Scott White, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Broad Peak, which rises 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) above sea level in the Karakoram range, is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and lies near K2, the world’s second-highest peak.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of rises

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

Definition of gathers

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