build
verb (used with object)
to construct (especially something complex) by assembling and joining parts or materials.
had built
-
past perfectof build.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Guides predicted that untrained drivers would crowd or otherwise harass animals, or play down the importance of the wildlife expertise guides had built over years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Just an hour earlier, the excitement had built up ahead of the main Paris event of the first official papal visit to the European nation in 18 years.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
The animosity that had built up was evident from the start.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
They demanded different systems than what the company had built for service providers, due to higher capacity demands, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
I had built a new life, and it was a happy one, but I felt a sense of loss that went beyond family.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
