1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
static electricity built up on the cat's fur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in growing (in)
to gradually increase in
the roller coaster built up momentum
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3
as in accumulating
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass
evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels
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4
as in expanding
to make greater in size, amount, or number
he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of building up
Sweeping daily—especially in the kitchen—prevents dust, crumbs, and dirt from building up and keeps floors consistently fresh.
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Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Below a certain depth, however, pressure prevents gases from building up, and keeps the body from rising.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The singer has spent the past 20 years building up one of the most successful music careers of all time, and she only recently got engaged at the age of 35 to fiancé Travis Kelce.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Smoke was building up inside as Balmer deployed the second incendiary device.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
It’s made with durable resin and has built-in ventilation to keep moisture from building up, so your backyard essentials don’t get moldy.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
During the speech, however, Kemp periodically deviated from building up Astra to hurling insults at several of his competitors in the launch industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
And OpenAI has been building up its own sales function.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up
Verb
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Despite his efforts, violence has continued to escalate with police increasing patrols and surveillance in Puerto Lopez following recent massacres in the province, the Associated Press said.—
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Progress in robotics, according to PNDbotics, depends less on increasing complexity and more on tighter integration between hardware and intelligence.—
Verb
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Prior to his firing earlier this week, Harbaugh coached the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons, accumulating a regular season record of 180-113 record with 13 postseason wins under his belt, including Super Bowl XLVII.—
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Forecast models have trended warmer, suggesting a transition from rain to a rain/snow mix rather than accumulating snow, the weather service said.—
Verb
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Last summer, her Hulu documentary Call Her Alex premiered, and she's also spent the year expanding her Unwell Hydration beverage line with new caffeinated beverages.—
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Backed by nearly $180 billion in venture capital and rapid growth in AI, fintech, and health tech, the sector is expanding New York’s tax base, attracting top talent, and fueling long-term economic growth.—
Verb
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His ability to handle all this now, the rising fame and the expectation to be the best, is because his dad taught him how to always find his center.—
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Even in states like Texas, which opted not to expand its Medicaid program and continued to rely on counties to care for many of its uninsured, rising health care costs are straining local budgets.—
Verb
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A week after a 27-10 road win at Syracuse, North Carolina turned in a dreadful first half against Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC), gaining only 47 total yards on its way to a 3-3 halftime tie.—
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The allegations contained in the recent NBA gambling indictment check the box of gaining widespread attention and headlines.—
Verb
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The suspect was accelerating and weaving to try to shake the officer off.—
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Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Verb
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Per BrightOcular, potential complications include infections, high pressure in the eye, glaucoma, inflammation of the iris, swelling in the cornea, loss of cells around the cornea, deterioration of the iris and more.—
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Arthritis refers to swelling in the joints.—
Verb
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There is a big difference between rolling up to a herd of buffalo in a Land Cruiser, and creeping past them on foot.—
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Even more, its comfortable band flexes with your body without rolling up or digging in.—
Cite this Entry
“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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