building
A1Neutral (Used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
A structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory.
The process, business, or art of constructing such structures. Also used metaphorically to describe the development of abstract things (e.g., relationships, careers).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Serves as both a noun (countable for structures, uncountable for the activity) and the present participle/gerund form of the verb 'to build'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the noun and verb identically. The verb 'build' can have slight dialectal differences in past tense/past participle (built vs. builded, archaic).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
build (sth) (of/from/with sth)build sth (for sb)build (sth) into sthbuild (sth) on sthbuild upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rome wasn't built in a day.”
- “building castles in the air”
- “build a better mousetrap”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to commercial property, company assets, and the construction sector. (e.g., 'Our assets include several downtown office buildings.')
Academic
Used in architecture, engineering, urban studies, and sociology. (e.g., 'The study analyzed the building's energy efficiency.')
Everyday
Refers to any man-made structure where people live or work. (e.g., 'I live in the red brick building on the corner.')
Technical
Specific to construction, with terms like 'load-bearing walls', 'building envelope', 'building codes'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are building a new block of flats behind the station.
- Trust is built over time.
American English
- They are building a new apartment complex behind the station.
- She's building a successful career in tech.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; appears in compounds like 'building-wise' or informally) The project is coming along building by building.
American English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb; appears in compounds like 'building-wide' or informally) The area is developing building by building.
adjective
British English
- We need more building supplies from the DIY store.
- The building regulations are very strict here.
American English
- We need more building materials from the hardware store.
- The building code is very strict here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My school is in a big building.
- They are building a house.
- The new shopping centre is a very modern building.
- The company is building a strong reputation for quality.
- The historical building has been renovated to serve as a museum.
- He spent years building up his savings before starting his own business.
- The architect's innovative use of sustainable materials transformed the concept of commercial building.
- Diplomatic efforts are focused on building consensus among the conflicting parties.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BUILD + ING. The action (ING) of making a BUILD-ing.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/RELATIONSHIPS/CAREERS ARE BUILDINGS (e.g., 'building a career', 'foundation of knowledge', 'construct an argument').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'building' for very small structures like a garden shed or a booth (use 'shed', 'kiosk').
- Do not confuse with 'construction' which is more about the process or industry.
- In Russian, 'здание' is a close equivalent for the noun, but English 'building' is broader and more common.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as /ˈbɪldɪŋg/ (adding a hard 'g').
- Using as an uncountable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I saw a beautiful building' is correct; 'I saw beautiful building' is wrong).
- Confusing 'building' (n) with 'built' (v past) in fast speech.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'building' used as an uncountable noun referring to the activity or process?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is frequently used metaphorically (e.g., 'building a relationship', 'team-building').
'Building' as a noun is the physical object. 'Construction' is more often the process, industry, or act of building. They can overlap (e.g., 'a steel construction').
It's /-ɪŋ/, not /-ɪŋg/. The 'g' is not pronounced as a separate hard sound.
Yes, commonly in compound nouns like 'building materials', 'building site', 'building codes', where it describes something related to construction.
Collections
Part of a collection
Places in the City
A1 · 50 words · Common buildings and places found in towns and cities.
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