built up
16
3.7
- phrasal verb
:
acumulado
- The first step in rebuilding a marriage is tearing away some of the scar tissue that has built up over the years.
It's a lot of built up wasted energy trying to hate on something.
- It's a lot of built up wasted energy trying to hate on something.
Examples
-
I think that you should have some kind of savings built up before the transition, right?
-
He's built up his membership to 92,000 and now seeks links with one or more international institutions.
Academic text (2010) -
In this way, the group built up a nice library in their village.
Academic text (1996) -
In fact, you have tons of energy built up into your muscles.
-
And we've seen so much fear built up now that most people have lost their faith.
-
Get rid of all the junk that's built up over the years.
-
On the other hand, there is a certain ethic that builds up over time.
Blog text (29) -
Self-assurance that has been built up throughout the years through knowledge and experience is weakened.
Academic text (2003) -
However, you've got a million-two built up in equity in your business, another 350,000 in your pension plan.
-
She has built up a strong collection of rare books over the years.
Synonyms
∞
1.3
To slowly make something stronger over time, like trust or skill
∞
1.0
Become gradually a certain way, for example feeling or weather
904
1.0
To become greater in amount or strength
510
1.1
To get more of something over time, like weight or money
207
3.0
Increase slowly over time
174
3.4
To gather more and more of something over time
57
4.5
To increase something gradually in stages
50
4.2
To gradually build up a feeling such as confidence or interest
47
4.1
To increase something, especially its amount or speed
27
6.6
To slowly increase over time, for example money or benefits
1
7.1
Gradually become stronger until a high point
Larger or more than before
To make someone feel stronger in their mind or feelings
Antonyms
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'accumulated or increased gradually' is directly derivable from combining 'build' (to create or increase gradually) with 'up' (indicating increase or upward direction); the phrasal pattern 'build up' meaning 'increase/accumulate' is a predictable composition. This is a common, cross-linguistic pattern of verb + particle conveying growth or accumulation, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will normally understand the adjective 'built up'.
Etymology
Built up gives the picture of things added little by little, like dust or snow slowly piling higher. The words built and up show something made higher step by step, so built up means 'gathered over time'.