building up
Amassing over time
Building up is the gradual process of accumulating, strengthening, or increasing something over time.
You might build up savings, build up muscle, or build up courage before a difficult conversation.
Tension builds up before a confrontation; pressure builds up in a sealed container.
The noun buildup (one word) names the result: a buildup of plaque, a military buildup.
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- slow burnGradual buildup of rage
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
- accumulationCollected mass over time
- assemblyConstructing from components
laying bricks · piece by piece · construct · snowballing · raise · intensifying · progression · pile · consolidation · steam engine · fortifying · momentum · head of steam · gaining traction · ramping up · formation · tension · anticipation
- growthgrowth, grow, growing, growth rate, increase
- exaggerationhyperbole, overstatement, exaggeration, magnification, amplification
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, making progress
- helping actionshelping, aiding, assisting, supporting, enabling
- amplifyingboosting, magnifying, intensifying, heightening, strengthening
- emotional responsesfacial expression, tone of voice, temper tantrum, mood swing, silent treatment
building uprunning down
Draining or pursuing
depleting · wearing down · draining · diminishing · eroding
building uptearing down
demolishing · knocking down · destroying · razing · dismantling
building upweakening
Becoming less strong
undermining · atrophying · deteriorating · degrading · debilitating
build, building, built, builder, rebuild, rebuilt, buildup, builds, rebuilding