build up

About 8.54 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To erect; to construct.
2. verb To close up by building.

   to build up a door

3. verb To accumulate: to increase incrementally or continually.

   Ever since the secretary left, the letters in my inbox have started to build up.

4. verb To strengthen.

   They had to build up their fortress to protect against attack.

5. verb In solitaire card games, to place a card over another card of lower value. (e.g., place 5♦ over 4♣)
6. noun Misspelling of buildup.

Similar words

build progress work up fortify gird arm upbuild put up make up go up

Word family

builder-upper builder-uppers building up builds up built up