buildup

American  

[bild-uhp] / ˈbɪldˌʌp /

Or build-up

noun

buildups plural

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

2. a process of growth; strengthening; development.

   the buildup of heavy industry.

3. an accumulation, as of a particular type of material.

   a buildup of salt deposits.

4. an increase, as in potential, intensity, or pressure.

   A buildup of suspense began halfway through the movie.

5. a progressive or sequential development.

   the buildup of helium atoms from hydrogen.

6. praise or publicity designed to enhance a reputation or popularize someone or something.

   The studio spent $100,000 on the new star's buildup.

7. a process of preparation designed to make possible the achievement of an ultimate objective.

   a lengthy buildup to a sales pitch.

8. encouragement; a psychological lift.

   Every time I need a buildup, I look at her picture.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• buildups
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

Instead of being driven primarily by plaque buildup in the brain, the disease could start when one protein interferes with the normal function of another inside nerve cells.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2026

Kugel points to attending a wedding where a family member married a “total raging maniac,” and how they dealt with the buildup of delicately balancing being cordial yet firm.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

He reassures them, noting that many healthy older adults have amyloid buildup but not all of them develop Alzheimer’s disease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

The findings suggest that blocking anthocyanin production redirected the plant's biochemical activity toward the buildup of these other compounds within the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway.

From Science Daily • Jun. 15, 2026

There must be some buildup, then the wave itself, then the aftermath of the flooding.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• enlargement
• escalation
• expansion
• growth
• stockpile