built cane: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (as a verb form)Neutral; common in both formal and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “built cane” mean?
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'build': to construct, form, or create something by putting parts or materials together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'build': to construct, form, or create something by putting parts or materials together.
Often used metaphorically to describe something developed or formed over time, such as a relationship, reputation, or system. Also used in compound adjectives describing physical characteristics (e.g., strongly-built).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling and core usage are identical. Potential minor differences in specific collocations or regional preferences for synonyms (e.g., 'made' vs. 'built').
Connotations
Identical. Conveys construction, development, or foundation.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “built cane” in a Sentence
Subject + built + Object (He built a wall.)Subject + built + Object + for/to + NP (She built a shelf for her books.)Subject + built + Object + out of/from + Material (They built it from wood.)Subject + be/get + built + (by + Agent) (The bridge was built in 1990.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “built cane” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They've just built a new leisure centre near the station.
- His confidence was built through years of experience.
American English
- They just built a new strip mall near the highway.
- Her career was built on hard work and innovation.
adverb
British English
- (N/A - 'built' is not used as a standard adverb. Adverbial concepts use 'built-in' or phrases like 'built to last').
American English
- (N/A - 'built' is not used as a standard adverb. Adverbial concepts use 'built-in' or phrases like 'built to last').
adjective
British English
- He's a powerfully built rugby player.
- The device has a built-in microphone.
American English
- She's a solidly built athlete.
- The car comes with built-in GPS.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in project management, development, and strategy (e.g., 'We built a new marketing team.').
Academic
Used in history, engineering, and social sciences to describe creation of structures, theories, or models.
Everyday
Extremely common for discussing houses, furniture, models, or any physical creation.
Technical
Specific to construction, manufacturing, software development ('The app was built using Python.').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “built cane”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “built cane”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “built cane”
- Using 'builded' instead of 'built'. ('He *builded a house.' -> 'He built a house.')
- Confusing 'built' (verb) with 'building' (noun). ('The *built is tall.' -> 'The building is tall.')
- Incorrect passive formation: 'It was build.' -> 'It was built.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Built' is more common and general, used for everything from Lego models to empires. 'Constructed' is slightly more formal and often implies a deliberate, planned process, especially in technical or official contexts.
No, it is frequently used metaphorically. You can build a reputation, build a case, build trust, or build a software program.
Use the auxiliary 'did' for questions and negatives in the simple past: 'Did you build that?' 'No, I didn't build it.' For perfect tenses, use 'have/has/had' + built: 'Has she built it yet?'
Yes, commonly in compound adjectives like 'well-built', 'custom-built', or 'built-in'. These describe the characteristics or origin of a noun.
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'build': to construct, form, or create something by putting parts or materials together.
Built cane is usually neutral; common in both formal and informal contexts. in register.
Built cane: in British English it is pronounced /bɪlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rome wasn't built in a day”
- “built on sand”
- “built-in”
- “built to order”
- “build up to something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BUILT' as the past of 'BUILD'. Both have 'ILT/ILD' in them. If something is BUILT, it's already been BUILDer-ed.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/RELATIONSHIPS/SYSTEMS ARE BUILDINGS (e.g., 'She built a strong argument.', 'Their partnership is built on trust.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'built' INCORRECTLY?