What does "build up" mean?
Main meanings:1. Increase or accumulate gradually:"Traffic is building up on the motorway.""The tension built up over months.""Savings build up over time."2. Strengthen or develop:"She's building up her client base.""He built up his confidence slowly.""Build up your fitness gradually."3.
Main meanings
1. Increase or accumulate gradually
"Traffic is building up on the motorway."
"The tension built up over months."
"Savings build up over time."
2. Strengthen or develop
"She's building up her client base."
"He built up his confidence slowly."
"Build up your fitness gradually."
3. Praise or promote (often excessive)
"The film was built up as the best of the year." (hyped)
"Don't build it up too much - it might disappoint."
As a noun - "a build-up"
"There was a build-up of traffic." / "The build-up to the event was exciting."
What it implies
Gradual process, not sudden change. Build-up takes time, which is why the image works - things accumulate layer by layer.
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Casual to professional. All meanings are common.
What does "build up" mean?
Gradual process, not sudden change. Build-up takes time, which is why the image works - things accumulate layer by layer.
Is "build up" formal or informal?
Casual to professional. All meanings are common.
Phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of English to master.
LLH Tutor explains them in plain language, so you know exactly when and how to use each one.
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