build
build — verb
1. to make a structure such as a house or bridge by joining materials together.
to make a structure such as a house or bridge by joining materials together.
Workers built a stone bridge across the river before the winter storms arrived.
build + structure noun
Aiko and her father built a tree house behind the garage last summer.
build + place for living or play
The company plans to build three new clinics in rural Kenya.
Beavers build strong dams with branches, mud, and wet grass.
文法句型
build + noun (house, bridge, wall)
build + with/from + material
用法筆記
Used for physical structures or places made from materials. It can also appear without an object when the activity is understood, as in 'They build for a living.'
常見錯誤
2. to slowly create and strengthen something through time, effort, or repeated acti
to slowly create and strengthen something through time, effort, or repeated action.
Mei built a loyal customer base by answering every message herself.
build + customer base
Years of late practice built Hana's confidence before the piano contest.
build + confidence
The charity built strong links with village schools over many summers.
Small daily walks built her strength after the long hospital stay.
- develop
broader and slightly more neutral
- establish
stresses making something firmly exist
- strengthen
focuses on making something stronger rather than simply creating it
文法句型
build + noun (trust, confidence, business, reputation)
用法筆記
The object is usually something that grows step by step, such as trust, strength, a business, or a reputation. Distinguish from sense 4, where the feeling or pressure becomes stronger by itself.
常見錯誤
3. to make a finished object or system by joining pieces or by carrying out each st
to make a finished object or system by joining pieces or by carrying out each stage in order.
Ravi built the bookcase from flat boards and a bag of screws.
build + object + from + parts
The students built a small robot by following the guide step by step.
build + by following instructions
Our design team built the website with simple tools and clear menus.
Nadia built a paper kite from bamboo sticks and bright red string.
- assemble
focuses on joining prepared parts together
- make
more general and less specific about parts or process
- put together
informal; often used for kits or simple objects
- dismantle
to take something apart
- take apart
everyday phrase for separating the pieces
文法句型
build + noun (robot, shelf, website, model)
build + noun + from + parts/materials
用法筆記
This sense is common for products, machines, models, and digital systems. Distinguish from sense 1, which is mainly about structures such as houses, roads, and bridges.
常見錯誤
4. to become greater or more powerful little by little, especially of feelings, pre
to become greater or more powerful little by little, especially of feelings, pressure, or support.
As the final song began, excitement built across the packed stadium.
intransitive: emotion builds
Dark clouds gathered, and tension built in the fishing village.
build + in + place
Support built quickly after the nurse shared the missing child's photo.
For weeks, pressure built inside the company before the director resigned.
文法句型
build + adverb
build + in/inside/across + place
build to + climax/peak
用法筆記
This sense does not take a direct object. The subject is usually a feeling, a crowd reaction, support, or pressure that rises on its own.
build — noun
1. a person's body type, especially how broad, thin, muscular, or heavy they are.
a person's body type, especially how broad, thin, muscular, or heavy they are.
Although Theo is short, his strong build helps him lift heavy boxes.
adjective + build
The doctor noted Mina's slight build before checking her blood pressure.
slight build
With his broad build, Ravi looked older than the other swimmers.
The rescue dog has a compact build and unusually powerful back legs.
文法句型
adjective + build (slight, strong, broad)
用法筆記
Most often used after an adjective, especially in descriptions such as 'slight build', 'medium build', or 'solid build'.
2. how well a product is put together, including its strength, finish, and overall
how well a product is put together, including its strength, finish, and overall feel.
The camera's metal build survived two long trips through Patagonia.
product noun + build
Drivers praised the truck's solid build and quiet doors.
solid build
This laptop's light build slips easily into a backpack, yet the case feels strong.
The blender's cheap build showed in the loose handle and thin plastic.
- construction
more technical; stresses how the parts are made and arranged
- make
slightly old-fashioned or technical in this noun sense
文法句型
adjective + build (solid, light, cheap)
用法筆記
Common with products such as cars, cameras, phones, and tools. It refers to overall make and feel, not only one part.
3. a particular version of software, a game, or a website prepared for testing or r
a particular version of software, a game, or a website prepared for testing or release.
The team sent us a new build of the app before Friday's demo.
build of + app
Players found three sound bugs in the latest game build.
latest game build
This build runs faster on older phones than last month's release.
Engineers pulled the build after users reported a blank home screen.
文法句型
build of + software/game/app
latest/new/beta build
用法筆記
This sense names the finished version itself. Distinguish from noun sense 4, where build means the process of producing that version.
4. the work of making a software version and turning code into something ready to t
the work of making a software version and turning code into something ready to test or use.
The build took ten minutes because the photo files were huge.
the build = build process
During the nightly build, one broken line stopped the whole system.
nightly build
After lunch, the build finished and the testers installed it.
A failed build delayed the update until the next morning.
- compilation
more technical; focuses on turning code into a runnable form
- release cycle
broader; includes steps beyond the build itself
文法句型
nightly/clean/failed build
用法筆記
Usually singular in software teams, and often modified by words such as 'nightly', 'failed', or 'clean'. Distinguish from noun sense 3, which refers to the resulting version.
5. a newly completed structure, or one that is still going up.
a newly completed structure, or one that is still going up.
The new build now stands beside the old brick clinic.
new build = newly built structure
Buyers toured the riverside new build while workers were still fitting windows.
property use: riverside new build
Scaffolding still covered one side of the school's new build on opening day.
The new build across the street has changed our kitchen view.
- construction
more technical; often used in project contexts
- development
broader; may include several buildings or a whole site
文法句型
modifier + build (hospital, school, apartment)
用法筆記
Mostly found in property, planning, or construction talk. It refers to the structure itself, not to the work period.
6. the work involved in raising a new building from the ground.
the work involved in raising a new building from the ground.
Street noise grew louder once the build started at dawn.
build = construction period
Heavy rain slowed the build for nearly two weeks in March.
the build = construction work
Safety checks were added during the build of the new sports hall.
During the build, cranes and cement trucks filled the road each morning.
- construction
the broad everyday word for the work of building
- development
can include planning and wider site work as well
文法句型
modifier + build (museum, airport, stadium)
用法筆記
This sense refers to the construction work or project period. Distinguish from noun sense 5, which refers to the finished or rising structure.
7. a steady rise in excitement, force, or emotion in music, stories, or events.
a steady rise in excitement, force, or emotion in music, stories, or events.
The film's slow build made the final chase feel even more shocking.
slow build in a story
You can hear a careful build in the drums before the singer returns.
build in music
The novel loses its build when the detective keeps cracking jokes.
Drums and crowd noise added to the build before the champion entered the ring.
文法句型
slow/careful build
build in + music/story
用法筆記
Often used for the way tension rises toward an important moment. Common with adjectives such as 'slow' or 'careful'.