English verb: build up | |||
1. | build up (change) enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages | ||
Samples | Build up your savings. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | increase | ||
2. | build up (change) form or accumulate steadily | ||
Samples | Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly. Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border. | ||
Synonyms | build, progress, work up | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | develop | ||
Verb group | build, build, build up, ramp up, work up | ||
3. | build up (competition) prepare oneself for a military confrontation | ||
Samples | The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East. Troops are building up on the Iraqi border. | ||
Synonyms | arm, fortify, gird | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | forearm, re-arm, rearm | ||
Antonyms | disarm, demilitarise, demilitarize | ||
4. | build up (change) bolster or strengthen | ||
Samples | We worked up courage. Build up confidence. Ramp up security in the airports. | ||
Synonyms | build, ramp up, work up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | increase | ||
Verb group | build, build up, progress, work up | ||
5. | build up (change) change the use of and make available or usable | ||
Samples | Develop land. The country developed its natural resources. The remote areas of the country were gradually built up. | ||
Synonyms | develop | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | ameliorate, amend, better, improve, meliorate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | redevelop, settle | ||
Verb group | develop, develop, develop, develop, educate, make grow, modernise, modernize, prepare, train | ||