building
Americannoun
-
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.
-
anything built or constructed.
-
the act, business, or practice of constructing houses, office buildings, etc.
noun
-
something built with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory
-
the act, business, occupation, or art of building houses, boats, etc
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of building
First recorded in 1250–1300, building is from the Middle English word byldinge. See build, -ing 1
Explanation
Building is the process of making something. Building Lego cities and towns is the favorite activity of many kids. When a construction company is building a structure like a grocery store or a school, you can say it's building a building. Anything from a small house to a skyscraper can be called a building, and both meanings of the word come from the verb build, with its Old English root byldan, "build or construct a house."
Vocabulary lists containing building
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.
German manufacturing orders rose sharply in March, a sign that businesses may have been building stocks in response to fears of disruptions to supplies and higher prices after the outbreak of the war in Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Barron’s in January drew up a to-do list for Disney’s new CEO, outlining four top priorities: accelerating streaming growth, pumping out more box-office hits, sorting out ESPN, and building on theme-park success.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
"Designing and building these thrusters over the last couple of years has been a long lead-up to this first test," said James Polk, senior research scientist at JPL.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
They were still heavily reliant on controlling possession and building from the back, but they switched it up with direct football at times.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
It was dark night when we were marched at last out of the building.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
