build into: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Business, Technical
Quick answer
What does “build into” mean?
To incorporate something as a permanent or inherent part of a system, agreement, or object during its creation or design.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To incorporate something as a permanent or inherent part of a system, agreement, or object during its creation or design.
To add something as a standard or essential feature; to create in such a way that a feature is an integral part from the outset.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of past tense ('built') and participle ('built') is the same.
Connotations
Same connotations of intentionality and integration in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US professional/technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “build into” in a Sentence
[Agent] builds [Feature] into [System/Agreement/Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “build into” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The clever architect built storage into every unused space.
- The treaty builds a five-year review clause into its terms.
American English
- The developer built privacy settings into the app's core.
- We need to build some contingency time into the schedule.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb for this phrasal verb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb for this phrasal verb.
adjective
British English
- This is a built-in feature. (Note: 'built-in' is the adjectival form.)
- The built-in obsolescence of the device annoyed customers.
American English
- The laptop has a built-in webcam.
- We offer a product with built-in WiFi.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Often used regarding contracts, pricing models, and project plans. 'The annual review was built into the employment contract.'
Academic
Used in social sciences and engineering to discuss models, theories, or systems. 'The researcher built a margin of error into the statistical model.'
Everyday
Less common. Might be used about household items or plans. 'We built a bookshelf into the alcove.' (Note: this uses a more literal, spatial sense.)
Technical
Common in software, engineering, and product design. 'Redundancy is built into the server architecture.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “build into”
- Using 'build in' without 'to' when an object follows (e.g., 'They built in safeguards' is correct; 'They built in the system safeguards' is incorrect. It should be 'They built safeguards into the system.').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'build safeguards into a system' or 'build into a system safeguards', though the first order is more common.
'Build in' can be used without specifying the system if it's clear from context (e.g., 'These costs are built in'). 'Build into' must be followed by the object (the system/plan) that receives the feature.
Yes, very commonly. E.g., 'Flexibility was built into the original design.'
Yes, 'built-in' is the direct adjectival derivative. It describes a feature that was incorporated during construction or design, e.g., 'a built-in microphone'.
To incorporate something as a permanent or inherent part of a system, agreement, or object during its creation or design.
Build into is usually formal, business, technical in register.
Build into: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪld ˈɪn.tuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪld ˈɪn.tu/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Build into the fabric of something.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine BUILDING a house. The plumbing and wiring are BUILT INTO the walls from the start—they are not added later. The phrasal verb works the same way for features in plans or systems.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEATURES ARE PHYSICAL COMPONENTS (of a constructed object).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'build into' correctly?