buildup
n. countablen. a gradual increase in the amount of something over time. It often refers to things that collect or grow, like snow, tension, or fat.
n. the gradual accumulation or increase of a substance, quantity, or abstract quality over a period of time. Often used with 'of' to specify what is accumulating.
The buildup of snow caused the road to close.
There was a steady buildup of tension in the room before the manager spoke.
The political crisis resulted from a long buildup of economic grievances that the government had ignored for years.
Deverbal from build up.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 4, 2026