buildup

or build-up

[ bild-uhp ]

/ ˈbɪldˌʌp /

See synonyms for buildup on Thesaurus.com

noun

a building up, as of military forces; increase in amount or number.

a process of growth; strengthening; development: the buildup of heavy industry.

an accumulation, as of a particular type of material: a buildup of salt deposits.

an increase, as in potential, intensity, or pressure: A buildup of suspense began halfway through the movie.

a progressive or sequential development: the buildup of helium atoms from hydrogen.

praise or publicity designed to enhance a reputation or popularize someone or something: The studio spent $100,000 on the new star's buildup.

a process of preparation designed to make possible the achievement of an ultimate objective: a lengthy buildup to a sales pitch.

encouragement; a psychological lift: Every time I need a buildup, I look at her picture.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of buildup

1925–30, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase build up

Words nearby buildup

building society, building trades, build into, build on, build on sand, buildup, built, built cane, built-in, built-in obsolescence, built-up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for buildup

The whole season for me was about the buildup to the wedding.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Personal Stories Behind His 'Modern Family' Marriage Arc|Jesse Tyler Ferguson|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That sounds small, but the buildup of Hezbollah forces in Syria was gradual, too.
Hezbollah’s Widening War Spreads to Iraq|Jamie Dettmer|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The core of the story is set against the backdrop of the Iraq invasion, the buildup, and the immediate aftermath.
Newsweek Takedown From Beyond the Grave: Michael Hastings’s Fiction Tells the Truth|Christopher Dickey|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One theory revolves around 9/11 and the buildup to the first Iraq War.
Skewed|Joe Concha|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Chatterjee and his team found that D-PDMP almost totally eliminated the buildup of cholesterol in vital regions of the body.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Come Closer to Eliminating Heart Disease|Dale Eisinger|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course it was another piece of callow whistling in the dark, but it was a buildup, too.
The Planet Strappers|Raymond Zinke Gallun
But information about the precise results of their ordinary use and their buildup in nature accumulates very slowly.
The Nation's River|United States Department of the Interior

British Dictionary definitions for buildup

build up

verb (adverb)

(tr) to construct gradually, systematically, and in stages

to increase, accumulate, or strengthen, esp by degreesthe murmur built up to a roar

(intr) to prepare for or gradually approach a climax

(tr) to improve the health or physique of (a person)

(tr, usually passive) to cover (an area) with buildings

(tr) to cause (a person, enterprise, etc) to become better known; publicizethey built several actresses up into stars

noun build-up

progressive increase in number, size, etcthe build-up of industry

a gradual approach to a climax or critical point

the training and practice that constitutes the preparation for a particular event or competitionthe team's Olympic build-up

extravagant publicity or praise, esp in the form of a campaign

military the process of attaining the required strength of forces and equipment, esp prior to an operation

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with buildup

build up

Fill an area with houses or other buildings, urbanize. For example, We want to protect the wetlands against those who want to build up the area. [c. 1400]

Gradually develop, increase in stages. For example, I want to build up my endurance for the race. [Early 1700s]

Accumulate or collect, as in A lot of rust has built up on the farm machinery. [Mid-1900s]

Increase, strengthen, develop toward, as in The sound built up until it was nearly deafening, or His argument was building up to a grand climax. [c. 1930]

Establish or enhance a reputation; praise or flatter. For example, Months before the official campaign could begin, they had been building up the senator's image. [c. 1930]

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

buildup

or build-up

noun

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of buildup

Words nearby buildup

Example sentences from the Web for buildup

British Dictionary definitions for buildup

verb (adverb)

noun build-up

Idioms and Phrases with buildup

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

buildup

or build-up

noun

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of buildup

Words nearby buildup

Words related to buildup

Example sentences from the Web for buildup

British Dictionary definitions for buildup

verb (adverb)

noun build-up

Idioms and Phrases with buildup