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

"I think that was a big statement on where we are and what we're fighting for. We've come a long way, we're building on result after result and I think we showed that."

From Barron's

Anger has been building on social media, especially after several residents revealed in interviews that they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out.

From BBC

Executives deliberated between a costly refurbishment of the existing office at 25 Bank Street, building on another patch of land in the Wharf or hopping west to the City, London’s historic financial district.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I've learnt so much from the people around me - fellow riders and staff - and I now want to continue building on our incredible past success into the future."

From BBC

"We will meet it by implementing, strengthening and building on the strong policy foundations we have laid over the past three years."

From Barron's

Related Words

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