1
: something produced by building up
fluid buildup in the lungs
2
: the act or process of building up
built up; building up; builds up
1
: to develop gradually by increments
building up endurance
built up a library
2
: to promote the health, strength, esteem, or reputation of
: to accumulate or develop appreciably
Synonyms
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
Ben Church, CNN, 25 June 2024
This even removes mineral buildup, making clean up a bit easier.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2024
Nora Colomer, Fox News, 29 June 2024
The carved and worked stones were used to help build up the city, researchers said, including a large sanctuary as part of a religious complex.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for buildup 
Noun
Brazil, though, did have the ball in the back of the net in the first half but Marquinhos’s header was ruled out after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted an offside in the buildup.
—Ben Church, CNN, 25 June 2024
This even removes mineral buildup, making clean up a bit easier.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2024
Verb
Try water bottle tablet cleaners like this Bottle Bright pack, available for under $10 at Walmart, to clean the grime that builds up at the bottom.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 29 June 2024
The carved and worked stones were used to help build up the city, researchers said, including a large sanctuary as part of a religious complex.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for buildup
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buildup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near buildup
Cite this Entry
“Buildup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buildup. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buildup
noun
build·up
ˈbil-ˌdəp 
1
: something produced by building up
2
: the act or process of building up
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