build
A2Neutral; suitable for all contexts from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
To construct something by putting parts or materials together.
To develop or increase something gradually, often referring to abstract concepts like confidence, trust, or a career.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb implies a process with stages. Its past tense and past participle are 'built'. It can be used transitively (build a house) and intransitively (the pressure is building).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic or semantic differences. The past participle 'built' is standard in both. 'Build out' is more common in US corporate/tech jargon for expanding capacity.
Connotations
Generally identical. In business, 'to build' implies creating value steadily, a positive connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] build [O] (We built a shed.)[S] build [O] [from/out of] [material] (She built a sculpture from clay.)[S] build [O] [for] [recipient] (He built a toy for his daughter.)[S] build [O] [up] (They built up the business.)[S] build [up] (Tension was building up.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “build bridges”
- “build castles in the air”
- “build on sand”
- “build a better mousetrap”
- “built like a tank”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for developing companies, brands, or client portfolios (e.g., 'build market share').
Academic
Used in social sciences for theories or arguments (e.g., 'build a hypothesis'), and in STEM for models or systems.
Everyday
Most common for physical objects (shelves, Lego) and personal development (skills, relationships).
Technical
In computing: to compile source code into an executable program. In construction: the specific process of erecting structures.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They plan to build a new surgery in the village.
- She's trying to build a case for flexible working hours.
- The queue began to build behind us.
American English
- The city will build affordable housing on that lot.
- He's building a strong argument for the defense.
- You need to build up your credit score.
adverb
British English
- The shelf wasn't put together build-wise correctly.
American English
- The team is working build-first, then testing later.
adjective
British English
- She has a very athletic build.
- This sofa is custom-build for the space.
American English
- He's a man of solid build.
- The website features build-in analytics tools.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can build a small house with these blocks.
- They built this school in 1990.
- My dad helped me build a bird feeder.
- The company is building a new factory outside Leeds.
- Regular exercise helps to build muscle.
- It takes time to build a good relationship with clients.
- The government's policy is designed to build public trust in the system.
- He built his argument on a series of flawed assumptions.
- We need to build on our initial success to secure more funding.
- The novel slowly builds a palpable sense of dread before the climax.
- Decades of research have built an incontrovertible case for climate action.
- Her entire career was built upon a foundation of relentless networking and innovation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BUILD' as 'Bringing Useful Items into Living Design' – you bring parts together to make something useful.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILDINGS (e.g., 'build a case', 'foundation of trust', 'their marriage is on solid ground').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'строить' for non-physical concepts where English uses 'develop' or 'establish' (e.g., 'build confidence' is OK, but 'build a habit' is less common; 'develop a habit' is better).
- Do not confuse 'build' (process) with 'built' (state). 'The house is built' means construction is complete, not an ongoing action.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'builded' (correct: 'built').
- Overusing 'build' for abstract nouns: 'build a solution' can sound odd; 'develop/find a solution' is often better.
- Missing particle: 'We need to build our team' vs. 'We need to build *up* our team' (both possible, but 'build up' emphasises gradual strengthening).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'build' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Build' is more common and general. 'Construct' is more formal and often implies a planned, technical process, especially for large structures.
Yes, as in 'a strongly-built man' or 'a well-built house'. It describes the physique or structure of something.
It means to gradually prepare for or approach a significant event or climax (e.g., 'The training sessions built up to the final marathon').
Yes, in its intransitive sense, often with 'up', meaning to increase in intensity (e.g., 'Excitement is building before the festival').
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