BUILDING (UP) Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

building up

verb

present participle of build up

as in increasing

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number static electricity built up on the cat's fur

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in growing (in)

to gradually increase in the roller coaster built up momentum

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in accumulating

to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in expanding

to make greater in size, amount, or number he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of building up Coleman Borthwick is among the 2026 draftees building up at the Peoria Sports Complex. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Government reshuffle Ahead of the next winter period, Ukraine is strengthening the defense of its energy infrastructure and building up reserves to ensure sufficient supplies of heat and electricity. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies start right after birth with three to five minutes at a time, building up to more than an hour a day. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 And because some of these inflation drivers affect multiple sectors, costs are building up throughout the supply chain. — Elizabeth Canales, The Conversation, 16 July 2026 The former second-round pick is suddenly one of the Lakers’ primary summer league players and hopes to use the experience as an important stepping stone, building up his game while also establishing a leadership voice. — Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 The strength of the onscreen bond between Ryan and Naim is in part due to their actors building up a real friendship before production began. — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026 Trash Cans Emptying the trash isn't enough to prevent funky odors from building up in your home. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 While the petition is just the latest in an ongoing crusade to tame the streets, tension in the neighborhood is building up, and for good reason. — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for building up

Verb

Qantas said demand for international travel remained strong, with both Qantas and its low-cost carrier Jetstar increasing capacity and unit revenue, although higher fuel costs weighed on international earnings.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
His foundation is aiming to spend $200 billion by 2045 with an increasing focus on AI.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of increasing

Verb

Summary An 11-year-old Ontario entrepreneur, Ashton Meyer, transformed his $10 bin cleaning side hustle into a viral success, gaining over 110,000 Instagram followers.

— Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Visiting people in their communities and gaining firsthand insight into Norway’s diverse realities became a fundamental part of their work.

— Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of gaining

Verb

The continent is releasing higher levels of mercury into the ocean and marine ecosystem because of climate change, and the toxic metal is accumulating in the region’s wildlife, causing health problems in the food chain.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026
This policy may be funded over a period aligned with the mortgage term, while accumulating cash value.

— Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of accumulating

Verb

Axel Springer is expanding in the Middle East, joining a growing number of Western publishers with an editorial presence in the region — and testing a key pillar of its editorial beliefs.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Mamdani’s signature 2-K program is scheduled to launch this fall with 2,000 students in select school districts, with the goal of expanding citywide over four years.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of expanding

Verb

Detectives are working to identify people involved and gathering statements from witnesses, Gonzalez said.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Summer temperatures are expected to last into October, and El Niño is currently gathering strength in the Pacific.

— Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of gathering

Verb

That would mean accelerating from Indonesia's roughly 5% decade-long growth average while keeping the deficit below its 3% statutory ceiling.

— Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
For Kraft Heinz, that’s accelerating a shift already underway in Europe toward shorter ingredient lists, smaller portions, and more high-protein products.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of accelerating

Verb

That mix of showers and storms continue for the rest of the week, ramping up over the weekend, with wet weather chances swelling to 60% Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
The condition may have caused pain and produced a deformation or swelling on her chest.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of swelling

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buildings

building up

builds

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Style

“Building up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20up. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of building up

verb

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