empire building
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of empire building
First recorded in 1895–1900
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.
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
But their empire building has not been without its controversial moments, with questions raised about EG Group's governance and a fine for "appalling" safety breaches at a former company.
From BBC ● Feb. 29, 2024
Bismarck originally believed empire building was a foolish venture that cost more than it returned.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
But Trask had a special personal interest In scourging the stars—he wanted to draw upon himself the fire of a certain enemy—a renegade planet-wrecker with a yen for galactic empire building.
From The Cosmic Computer by Piper, H. Beam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
