built
ˈbilt 
; building
; building
1
2
: to cause to be constructed
a contractor who has built hundreds of homes
3
: to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base
building a legal case against her
built the organization from the ground up
1
: to engage in building
2
a
: to progress toward a peak (as of intensity)
build to a climax
b
: to develop in extent
a crowd building
plural builds
1
: form or mode of structure : make
the boxy build of the car
especially
: bodily conformation of a person or animal
a man of stocky build
2
: a version or iteration of a product or component
We worked with several builds of the beta code, which was in itself instructive. Things that worked perfectly in one version stopped working at all in the next release.—
Bill Machrone et al.
Bill Machrone et al.Synonyms
Examples of build in a Sentence
Verb
The bridge was built in the 1890s.
The planes were built in Germany.
The organization helps build houses for poor families.
A family of birds has built a nest on our roof.
She started building a fire in the fireplace.
He built a model airplane from a kit.
You will need permission to build on your property.
They are building a legal case against the tobacco industry.
scientists building theories about how the universe began
At college, you'll build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Noun
He is strong and muscular in build.
a man of average build
Recent Examples on the WebAndrew Greif, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
Staying disciplined to that and executing on campaign fundamentals — voter contact, grassroots organizing, and earned media — while not getting drawn off message by social media chatter were the keys to holding and building our margin of victory.
—Rich Orsillo, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2024
Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024
Over the next two decades, Leger’s builds, ranging from 12 to 40 feet, attracted middle-class day boaters who wanted something that was less tippy on seas than a monohull.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for build 
Verb
That scarcity, combined with the fast times each had produced racing others, built the anticipation for Thursday’s showdown in Stade de France.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
Staying disciplined to that and executing on campaign fundamentals — voter contact, grassroots organizing, and earned media — while not getting drawn off message by social media chatter were the keys to holding and building our margin of victory.
—Rich Orsillo, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2024
Noun
The ground-up build on Wilshire Blvd. was seven years in the making.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024
Over the next two decades, Leger’s builds, ranging from 12 to 40 feet, attracted middle-class day boaters who wanted something that was less tippy on seas than a monohull.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for build
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'build.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Build.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/build. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
build
2 of 2 noun
: form or kind of structure
especially
: physique
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