built-up

American  

[bilt-uhp] / ˈbɪltˌʌp /

adjective

1. built by the fastening together of several parts or enlarged by the addition of layers.

   This shoe has a built-up heel.

2. (of an area) filled in with houses, as an urban region.

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built-up British  

adjective

1. having many buildings (esp in the phrase built-up area )

2. denoting a beam, girder, or stanchion constructed of sections welded, riveted, or bolted together, etc

3. increased by the addition of parts

   built-up heels

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Etymology

Origin of built-up

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

I had so much built-up anxiety about facing my own numbers, but seeing my boyfriend lay his cards on the table gave me the courage to finally log in and look at mine.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Once that confinement breaks down, the built-up tension is released and the metal rearranges into its usual crystalline form.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2025

The regulator said it is also prepared to take measures to alleviate constraints on institutions and ensure the Canadian financial system can leverage its built-up financial resilience if needed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Indeed, by that point, the Dodgers had already indicated that Ohtani wouldn’t need to be fully built-up to return to game action.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2025

Every few months—especially when it was hot and humid—the weight of the built-up paper would become too much for the staples, and a slow avalanche of clippings would lean forward and whisper to the floor.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

• assisted
• augmented
• fortified
• strengthened