English Reference

Word

buildup

US/ˈbɪɫˌdəp/

UK/bˈɪldʌp/

Definitions

01gradual increase

B2

n. a slow increase or accumulation of something over a period of time.

n. the gradual accumulation or increase of a substance, pressure, or abstract quality.

“The buildup of ice on the wings made it dangerous for the plane to fly.”

“Environmental scientists are concerned about the long-term buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its impact on global temperatures.”

02preparation for an event

B2

n. the period of time and excitement leading up to a major event.

n. the period of preparation, publicity, or increasing excitement preceding a specific event.

“There was a lot of media buildup before the championship game started.”

“Despite the intense promotional buildup surrounding the product launch, initial sales figures were surprisingly modest.”

Synonyms

lead-uppreparation

Antonyms

03dental repair

C2 · Medicine

n. a way to fix a damaged tooth by building it up with special material.

n. the construction of a composite core to restore or repair a damaged tooth structure.

“The dentist recommended a buildup before placing the new crown on the tooth.”

“The clinical success of the final restoration depends heavily on the structural integrity of the composite buildup used to support the crown.”

Technical

Synonyms

restorationcore buildup

Real-World Examples

“Zebrafish with a faulty collagen-related gene developed mineral buildup and spinal fusion similar to human disc disease.”
ScienceDaily · 6 Aug 2026
“The Celtic fans were in full voice in the buildup but there were early worries.”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026

Etymology

Deverbal from build up.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/buildup

English Reference