building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling)

2

: the art or business of assembling materials into a structure

Synonyms of building

• structure
• house
• edifice

Examples of building in a Sentence

My office is in that small brick building.

We bought the land for building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Until recently, his only comfort was a large orangutan plush toy that some brilliant member of staff gifted him as a tool for muscle building and maternal replacement. —Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026

There used to be a down season in Edinburgh, when Scotland's capital city—with its beautiful Gothic buildings, cobblestoned Royal Mile, and 12th-century castle keeping watch on a hilltop—caught a slight breather from tourists. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

Because the Heat largely have moved away from the draft as their prime building component, there has become less appreciation of the possibilities. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026

Economists contend the city’s property tax system favors single-family homes, luxury condos and predominantly white neighborhoods overall — and puts more weight on multi-family buildings and homeowners in mostly Black neighborhoods. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing building

• apartment building
• building block
• building society
• sick building syndrome
• world building

Rhymes for building

• gilding
• boatbuilding
• outbuilding
• rebuilding
• roadbuilding
• shipbuilding
• upbuilding
• bodybuilding

Kids Definition

building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a permanent structure built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity or for storage

an office building

2

: the art, work, or business of assembling materials into a structure