build into

British

verb

(tr, preposition) to make (something) a definite part of (a contract, agreement, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But it is clear Scotland cannot afford to build into the game, they need the sort of start they got against England when they raced 17-0 ahead.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

He briefly explored a 1996 presidential bid but instead took a position as chief executive of Halliburton, which he helped build into one of the leading suppliers of oil-drilling equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

Maybe we'll do multiple seasons, and I think over time it'll build into something people connect with.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2024

Manager Scott Servais tried to downplay the situation somewhat, not wanting it to build into something more.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

“The blocks build into a column and then we shift over one space to repeat the same sequence.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023