building

[bil-ding]

noun

1. a relatively permanent enclosed construction over a plot of land, having a roof and usually windows and often more than one level, used for any of a wide variety of activities, as living, entertaining, or manufacturing.

2. anything built built or constructed.

3. the act, business, or practice of constructing houses, office buildings, etc.

building

/ ˈbɪldɪŋ /

noun

1. something built with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory

2. the act, business, occupation, or art of building houses, boats, etc

Other Word Forms

• buildingless adjective
• underbuilding noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of building¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, building is from the Middle English word byldinge. See build, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

Building, edifice, structure refer to something built. Building and structure may apply to either a finished or an unfinished product of construction, and carry no implications as to size or condition. Edifice is a more formal word and narrower in application, referring to a completed structure, and usually a large and imposing one. Building generally connotes a useful purpose (houses, schools, business offices, etc.); structure suggests the planning and constructive process.

Example Sentences

Collier’s investment in Unrivaled has been portrayed at times as a conflict of interest—and yes, bashing one league while you’re building another presents some interesting optics, to say the least.

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It felt like a good place to start building something new.

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The result is a maximum of space with a minimum of building.

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Meanwhile, the number of home transactions has fallen to levels not seen since the 1990s, and the “shadow inventory” of unsold homes is building in the rental market, along with delistings.

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Georgieva said governments must continue to support growth by providing “the basic building blocks of free markets,” including “good data” and “independent yet accountable institutions.”

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Related Words

• architecture 
• construction 
• home 
• house 
• hut