build

American  

[bild] / bɪld /

verb (used with object)

• builds,
  present (3rd person singular)
• built,
  past participle,  past
• builded,
  past participle,  past (Archaic)
• building
  present participle

1. to construct (especially something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials.

   to build a house.

2. to establish, increase, or strengthen (often followed byup ).

   to build a business;

   to build up one's hopes.

3. to mold, form, or create.

   to build students into skilled professionals.

4. to base; found.

   a relationship built on trust.

5. Games.

   1. to make (words) from letters.

   2. to assemble (cards) according to number, suit, etc., as in melding.

   3. to create (a character in a role-playing game) by choosing a job class and/or a set of attributes, skills, weapons, armor, etc.; spec.

      If you want to build a Warlock, choosing Half-Elf for your race will give you more spells and magic resistance.

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verb (used without object)

• builds,
  present (3rd person singular)
• built,
  past participle,  past
• builded,
  past participle,  past (Archaic)
• building
  present participle

1. to engage in the art, practice, or business of building.

2. to form or construct a plan, system of thought, etc. (usually followed by on orupon ).

   He built on the philosophies of the past.

3. to increase or develop toward a maximum, as of intensity, tempo, or magnitude (often followed byup ).

   The drama builds steadily toward a climax.

noun

• builds
  plural

1. the physical structure, especially of a person; physique; figure.

   He had a strong build.

2. the manner or form of construction.

   The house was of modern build.

3. Computers.

   1. a version of a program after compilation, typically an update to an existing version made before the program is released.

   2. the process of producing a software build.

   3. a new version or update of data in a database or on a website.

      frequent, incremental builds of data.

4. (in a video game or tabletop role-playing game) a set of attributes, skills, weapons, armor, and other items chosen by the player that affect the character’s speed, strength, intelligence, etc., which may make the character more effective in some roles and less effective in others.

5. Masonry.

   1. a vertical joint.

   2. the vertical dimension of a stone laid on its bed.

verb phrase

1. build in / into to build or incorporate as part of something else: an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

   to build in bookcases between the windows;

   an allowance for travel expenses built into the budget.

2. build out to expand, construct, or develop: The team used to manually build out its marketing email list, but now it's automatic.

   They decided to build out the road network to connect the two towns.

   The team used to manually build out its marketing email list, but now it's automatic.

3. build up

   1. to develop or increase.

      to build up a bank account.

   2. to strengthen.

   3. to prepare in stages.

   4. to fill in with houses; develop into an urban area.

   5. to praise or flatter.

build British  

/ bɪld /

verb

1. to make, construct, or form by joining parts or materials

   to build a house

2. (intr) to be a builder by profession

3. (tr) to order the building of

   the government builds most of our hospitals

4. to base; found

   his theory was not built on facts

5. (tr) to establish and develop

   it took ten years to build a business

6. (tr) to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose

   the car was not built for speed

7. to increase in intensity

   the wind was building

8. cards

   1. to add cards to each other to form (a sequence or set)

   2. (intr) to add to the layout of cards on the table from one's hand

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noun

1. physical form, figure, or proportions

   a man with an athletic build

build Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing build

• built
• light (build) a fire under

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misbuild
  verb
• superbuild
  verb
• underbuild
  verb
• outbuild
  verb (used with object)
• prebuild
  verb (used with object)
• buildable
  adjective
• unbuildable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• builds
  plural

Participles

• building
  present
• builded
  past
• built
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• build
  simple
• builds
  simple
• have builded
  perfect
• have built
  perfect
• has builded
  perfect
• has built
  perfect
• am building
  progressive
• are building
  progressive
• is building
  progressive
• have been building
  perfect progressive
• has been building
  perfect progressive

Past

• builded
  simple
• built
  simple
• had builded
  perfect
• had built
  perfect
• was building
  progressive
• were building
  progressive
• had been building
  perfect progressive

Future

• will build
  simple
• will have builded
  perfect
• will have built
  perfect
• will be building
  progressive
• will have been building
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of build

First recorded before 1150; from Middle English bilden, Old English byldan, derivative of bold, variant of botl “dwelling, house”

Explanation

To build is to construct or make something. When you build a house, you start at the very bottom, with the foundation, and work your way up. You build a birdhouse using scraps of wood, a hammer, and nails, or you can build a career as a poet by writing daily and submitting poems to literary magazines. In both examples, you're constructing something yourself using materials and hard work. Another meaning is to make stronger: "I have to build my endurance if I'm going to finish that marathon." The Old English root of build, byldan, specifically means "build a house," from bold, "house."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

build builds builded built building

"You have to build that relationship with the players," said Wilshere.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

"We want to change the dynamics, we want to build Abuja as a fashion city."

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

The additional resources will allow the team to build simulations with even greater resolution and more complete physical models.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026

They’ve been hiring more people to build data centers and to supply the materials and manufactured goods used in construction.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026

He’s coming to help build more coops today.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

However, the higher rates go and the longer they stay elevated, the more damage the sector is likely to incur, especially as nervousness likely builds ahead of earnings season.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

"If the system responsible for clearing signaling molecules isn't working properly, everything builds up."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

The California law builds off of a similar one passed in New York last year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

A UK-only bidding competition will decide who builds the floating docks but Navantia UK, which owns sites in Fife and Belfast, is seen as a frontrunner.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

And so he builds, because what is building, and rebuilding and rebuilding again, but an act of faith?

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

“Here where Nature has builded her finest playground, man has added the material things which provide the comforts that make life worth while,” proclaimed a 1921 advertisement in The Times titled “The Great Southwest.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2022

And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills?

From Time Magazine Archive

Our heritage is builded high On faith and love—they will not die!

From Time Magazine Archive

Born luckily to place and power, Premier Jon Bratiano has held and builded upon both.

From Time Magazine Archive

Oh, he was not lying; his own triumph had outrun him; he had builded even better in evil than even he could have hoped.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner

To honor that kind of visionary, this country built a center for the creative impossible, and gave it his name.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Behind the pageantry, Xi’s team built his schedule around how long he could stand, how far he could walk and when he would need to stop, according to people familiar with the planning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

However, the older, Gothic revival-style building, built in 1878, has remained vacant for more than 15 years.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

That’s a place I’ve been going since 2015 and I’ve built a really good connection with people out there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

“Built by a fellow, oh, twenty years ago,” said Pa. “He was a squatter who pitched a tent in the woods and built that outhouse.”

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Bukayo Saka: The winger scored twice and looks to be building a good partnership with Quansah on England's right-hand side.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

The case against Manchester City had been building for nearly a decade before the seismic news finally landed this week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Palmer Luckey, 34-year-old co-founder of Anduril, is building the world’s next frontier of warfare for the Pentagon but wears a uniform of exclusively Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts.

From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026

Like any other building from 1971, or a democracy created in 1776, the Kennedy Center could use some attention and possibly some structural repair.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

He grabbed my basket and strode around the side of the building.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• assemble
• erect
• evolve
• form
• make
• manufacture
• produce
• raise
• reconstruct
• set up