empire building

American  

noun

1. the plans, activities, achievements, etc., of an empire builder.

---

Etymology

Origin of empire building

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

One reason the Monroe doctrine and empire building went out of fashion was that colonies and client states wanted out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

Yes, there had always been daytime game shows, but after “American Idol” and “Survivor” became prime-time hits and the Kardashians began their empire building, the reality craze spread like kudzu through broadcast and cable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2025

"A lot of the maps we have are military mapping so you get things that are of interest to armies and of interest to empire building, raw materials, resources, things like that."

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2023

Since then, McMahon has continued his empire building.

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2023

Man’s work at empire building beckoned me, for surely the wagoning of munitions to remote outposts of civilization was very necessary.

From Desert Dust by Shepherd, J. Clinton