buildup
Americannoun
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a building up, as of military forces; increase in amount or number.
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a process of growth; strengthening; development.
the buildup of heavy industry.
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an accumulation, as of a particular type of material.
a buildup of salt deposits.
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an increase, as in potential, intensity, or pressure.
A buildup of suspense began halfway through the movie.
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a progressive or sequential development.
the buildup of helium atoms from hydrogen.
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praise or publicity designed to enhance a reputation or popularize someone or something.
The studio spent $100,000 on the new star's buildup.
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a process of preparation designed to make possible the achievement of an ultimate objective.
a lengthy buildup to a sales pitch.
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encouragement; a psychological lift.
Every time I need a buildup, I look at her picture.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of buildup
1925–30, noun use of verb phrase build up
Explanation
The slow growth or increase of something is a buildup. Over the course of a winter storm, there will be a buildup of snow on the car that's parked in your driveway. The process of something collecting or growing is a buildup, and so is its result. As you buy more and more things with a credit card, you'll see a buildup of debt. And If you venture into your uncle's spooky attic where no one's dared to go for years, there's bound to be a buildup of dust on every surface. Buildup has also come to mean "increasing excitement, preparation, or publicity," like the buildup before Christmas at the mall.
Vocabulary lists containing buildup
"Handle with Care"
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The Contemporary Period, c. 1914 to the Present
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The First State of Being
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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.
Treatment with OLE reduced the buildup of protein aggregates and improved the animals' movement, indicating a protective effect.
From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2026
“But if the S&P 500 goes down, they will probably go down less, because there’s less price buildup that would get undone. They can be a port in the storm.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
They found that a crack in the compromised tank released the pressure buildup inside the storage unit, which ruled out the possibility of an explosion, and allowed residents to return to their homes.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Same-store sales had been growing steadily in the buildup to Cracker Barrel’s logo fiasco before plummeting 8.5% in the quarter ended last October and 7.9% in the January quarter.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
I don't know if it was the sugar smell, or the buildup from earlier, or what, but I just...said it.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
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.
