build on

Idioms  

1. Also, build upon. Add as an extension; use as a basis or foundation. For example, They decided to build on an addition, or She was building all her hopes on passing the exam. John Locke had this idiom in his treatise on government (1689): “Sovereignty built on ‘property’ . . . comes to nothing.” [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

build on

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and others are warning that AI models may be able to build on themselves, without the help of humans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

The work will also build on innovative use of GPS livestock collars to manage grazing more precisely.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

The draft laws build on Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, which came into effect late last year.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Because in addition to what the couple wants to build on Sazan, they are proposing to build 10,000 luxury villas on the Zvernec peninsula, which lies opposite the island.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

They rode past a swampy area Harriet said was too wet to build on.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• believe in
• bet on
• count on
• lean on
• look to
• rely on