build-up
[noun]
Synonyms: increase, accumulation, development, enlargement, escalation, expansion, gain, growth

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English Thesaurus: collect, gather, assemble, build up, accumulate, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

build up phrasal verb (see also build)

1. INCREASE GRADUALLY if something builds up somewhere, or if you build it up, it gradually becomes bigger or greater:
the rate at which the pension builds up
build something ↔ up
The museum has built up a fine art collection. ⇒ build-up

2. DEVELOP build something ↔ up to make something develop or form
build something ↔ up into
He’s built up the family firm into a multinational company.

3. FEELING if a feeling builds up, or if you build it up, it increases gradually over a period of time:
If you don’t express your feelings, frustration and anger can build up.
build up something
You have to build up trust.

4. MAKE HEALTHY build somebody/something ↔ up to make someone well and strong again, especially after an illness:
Taking exercise will build up your strength.

5. PRAISE build somebody/something ↔ up to praise someone or something so that other people think they are really good, or so that they have more confidence:
The coach has been building his men up before the match.

6. build up sb’s hopes (also build somebody's hopes up) to unfairly encourage someone to think that they will get what they hope for:
Don’t build your hopes up too much.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈbuild-up noun [countable usually singular]

1. an increase over a period of time
build-up of
a heavy build-up of traffic on the motorway

2. a description of someone or something before an event, in which you say they are very special or important:
The presenter gave her a big build-up.

3. the length of time spent preparing an event:
I was running 20 miles a week in my build-up for the race.
⇒ build up at build¹

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

build up
noun
I. gradual increase
ADJ. gradual, slow | steady | rapid | massive VERB + BUILD-UP cause, lead to The leak led to a slow build-up of carbon dioxide.
avoid, prevent
PREP. during/in the ~ | ~ of

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

build up
II. period of time before an event
ADJ. pre-match, pre-trial, etc.
PREP. ~ to Tension is mounting in the build-up to the elections.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

collect to get things of the same type from different places and bring them together:
She collects stamps (=as a hobby).
They have collected 650 signatures for their petition.
gather to collect information from different places, or to collect crops, flowers, wood etc, especially from the ground:
Computers make it easier to gather information.
The men gathered firewood.
assemble formal to collect something such as information in an organized way:
When all the evidence is assembled, we will write our report.
build up to gradually collect more things of the same type over time:
He has built up one of the country’s finest collections of art.
accumulate to gradually get more and more of something such as money, possessions, or knowledge, over time. Accumulate is more formal than build up:
He is driven by the desire to accumulate wealth.
amass to collect a large amount of something such as money, information, or knowledge, over time:
Carnegie amassed a fortune in the steel industry.
run up a bill/debt/loss informal to allow a debt to increase quickly, especially by spending too much:
He ran up huge gambling debts.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

build up
• build up (someone or something)
to make someone or something bigger or stronger, to promote something
The woman is always trying to build up her boss which makes her very well-liked by him.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

build up something
• build up (someone or something)
to make someone or something bigger or stronger, to promote something
The woman is always trying to build up her boss which makes her very well-liked by him.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

build up
v.
1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts.
Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow.
Lois built up a cake of three layers.
2. To cover over or fill up with buildings.
The fields where Tom's father played as a boy are all built up now.
A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up.
3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow.
John built up a bank account by saving regularly.
The noise built up until Mary couldn't stand it any longer.
3b. To make stronger or better or more effective.
Fred exercised to build up his muscles.
Joanne was studying to build up her algebra.
3c. informal To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous.
The press agent built up the young actress.
The movie company spent much money building up its new picture.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲