build up
- Verb (transitive and intransitive):
- To develop or increase something gradually over time: To make something stronger, larger, or more extensive through a steady, cumulative process.
- To accumulate or gather steadily: To increase in amount, intensity, or presence over a period.
- To prepare or strengthen oneself mentally or physically: To bolster one's confidence, courage, or readiness for a challenge.
- To develop land by constructing buildings on it: To change the use of an area, typically from rural or vacant to urbanized by erecting structures.
Verb (Transitive): You need to build up your savings for an emergency. (To gradually increase the amount of money saved.) The coach helped the athlete build up his stamina. (To develop physical strength or endurance gradually.) The company is working to build up its brand reputation. (To strengthen or enhance a reputation over time.)
Verb (Intransitive): Tension began to build up in the room. (To accumulate or increase in intensity.) Traffic builds up on this highway every evening. (To gather or accumulate in quantity.) Resistance to the new policy built up quickly among the staff. (To develop or grow steadily.)
"To build oneself up": To strengthen one's own physical condition, confidence, or skills. After the illness, she focused on building herself up with light exercise and good nutrition.
"A build-up of [something]" (Noun form): The process or result of gradual accumulation. The build-up of plaque can lead to heart disease.There was a military build-up along the border.
- Builder (n): A person or company that constructs buildings.
- Building (n): A structure with a roof and walls.
- Built-up (adj): Describing an area with many buildings; developed.
- Accumulate: To gather or collect over time.
- Develop: To grow or cause to grow over time.
- Strengthen: To make or become stronger.
- Bolster: To support or strengthen.
Build on/upon: To use something as a foundation for further development. We will build on our early success to expand the project.
Build in/into: To incorporate something as an integral part. Safety features are built into the design of the car.
- Build up to something: To gradually prepare for or approach a significant event or climax.
- change the use of and make available or usable
- develop land
- The country developed its natural resources
- The remote areas of the country were gradually built up
- bolster or strengthen
- We worked up courage
- build up confidence
- ramp up security in the airports
- prepare oneself for a military confrontation
- The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East
- troops are building up on the Iraqi border
- form or accumulate steadily
- Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
- Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border
- enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages
- build up your savings