buildup

1 of 2

noun

build·​up ˈbild-ˌəp How to pronounce buildup (audio)
1
: something produced by building up
fluid buildup in the lungs
2
: the act or process of building up

build up

2 of 2

verb

built up; building up; builds up

transitive verb

1
: to develop gradually by increments
building up endurance
built up a library
2
: to promote the health, strength, esteem, or reputation of

intransitive verb

: to accumulate or develop appreciably
builder-upper noun

Examples of buildup in a Sentence

Noun There is a big traffic buildup on the highway. You should clean the mechanism regularly to prevent buildup of dirt. Both players were given big buildups before the game. Verb static electricity built up on the cat's fur the roller coaster built up momentum
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Wednesday’s presentation was short on specifics, with festival organizers saying only that the buildup to the Preakness will last for months and that a list of events — including free and ticketed cultural gatherings, arts activities, and a headline concert — will be released in early 2025. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 11 Dec. 2024 Each eruption contributed to a gradual buildup of atmospheric dust, dimming sunlight and cooling the planet. Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
Getting her company back up and running — a process that involved finding a new factory in China, as well as securing a $120,000 investment from a family friend to pay off existing debts and build up new inventory — took several years. Nicolas Vega,raffi Paul, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024 In recent years, many noted that Hezbollah, with help from its patron in Tehran, had built up a vast arsenal of surface-to-surface missiles and rockets that could severely harm Israel in the event of an all-out war. Paul Iddon, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for buildup 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buildup was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near buildup

Cite this Entry

“Buildup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buildup. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

buildup

noun
build·​up ˈbil-ˌdəp How to pronounce buildup (audio)
1
: something produced by building up
2
: the act or process of building up
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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