build-up
Slow steady growth
Build-up is a gradual increase or accumulation over time.
Traffic builds up during rush hour; plaque builds up on teeth; tension builds up before a confrontation.
The word also names the period of increasing anticipation or preparation: the build-up to the election, all that build-up for a disappointing finale.
In military contexts, a build-up is the massing of troops or equipment in an area.
Belief about future outcomes
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
- hypeExaggerated promotional fanfare
eagerness · buzz · momentum · crescendo · climax · drumroll · countdown · leadup
Growth in amount
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- expansionIncrease in scope
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- riseMove to higher position
proliferation · intensification · amplification · acceleration · snowballing · mounting · swelling · gaining
Combined collection of items
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
- pileupSequential vehicular collision
- amassmentAct of piling up
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
collection · concentration · deposit · sediment · plaque · residue · silt · gunk
Developing abilities through practice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- readinessState of being prepared
warmup · practice · rehearsal · drills · regimen · strengthening · stamina · endurance
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
hype · eagerness · buzz · momentum · crescendo · climax · drumroll · countdown · leadup · prelude
increase
Growth in amount
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- expansionIncrease in scope
- surgeSudden powerful increase
rise · proliferation · intensification · amplification · acceleration · snowballing · mounting · swelling · gaining · climbing
aggregation
Combined collection of items
hoarding · collection · concentration · deposit · sediment · plaque · residue · silt · gunk · sludge
training
Developing abilities through practice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- foundationUnderlying support structure
readiness · warmup · practice · rehearsal · drills · regimen · strengthening · stamina · endurance · fortification
blockage
Obstruction halting movement
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- clogBlock or wooden shoe
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
bottleneck · jam · gridlock · logjam · traffic · backlog · queue · delay · slowdown · standstill
- plotplot, storyline, subplot, climax, narrative
- Technotechno, Detroit techno, 808, four-on-the-floor, kick drum
- writing craftcreative writing, diction, fiction writing, pacing, novel writing
- rhythm termsrhythm, beat, tempo, meter, cadence
- pop songschorus, refrain, verse, lyrics, melody
- song partsverse, intro, chorus, verse-chorus, outro
build-upreduction
Making something smaller
decrease · decline · depletion · diminution · contraction
build-uprelease
To let go
discharge · climax · culmination · outburst · explosion
build-updrawdown
Reduction over time
withdrawal · pullout · demobilization · stand-down · de-escalation