build in

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to incorporate or construct as an integral part

   to build in safety features

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build in Idioms  

1. Also, build into. Construct or include as an integral part; also, make automatic, concomitant, or inherent. For example, Frank Lloyd Wright liked to build in as much furniture as possible, not just bookcases but desks, tables, and the like, or We've got to build some slack into the schedule for this project. The literal usage referring to physical objects dates from the late 1920s. The figurative arose a decade or so later. Both are frequently used in past participle form, that is, built in.

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Example Sentences

There, the impact of the war is only beginning to show up, and the effect is expected to build in coming months, even if traffic starts moving through the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

The more realistic approach is to build in a financial cushion even if years of soaring inflation and increasingly expensive healthcare erode your nest egg.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

“We’ve fought together for our schools, our streets, and our families ever since. ... That’s not something you build in a campaign — it’s earned, day by day.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

We also build in some expectations of banks’ shareholder-unfriendly actions.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

I’m still groggy, but a rage is starting to build in me.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• add
• build
• carry
• combine
• comprise
• consist of
• cover
• encompass
• enter
• have
• hold
• incorporate
• introduce
• receive