building

American  

[bil-ding] / ˈbɪl dɪŋ /

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 or constructed.

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

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building British  

/ 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

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Synonym Usage

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

• buildingless
  adjective
• underbuilding
  noun

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."

Example Sentences

Building on that earlier finding, doctoral student Tuan-Anh Nguyen led new research that uncovered two critical enzymes involved in the production of mitraphylline.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Building Safety Remediation Bill - Aimed at improving building safety in England further in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell fire, implementing changes outlined in the government's policy plan.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

Building more with less, he added, can ease construction costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Building a tunnel underneath Wilshire, one of L.A.’s most congested corridors, was difficult enough.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

I bet you a lot of them ain’t never been to the Empire State Building or even Harlem.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• architecture
• construction
• home
• house
• hut