Building — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbil-diŋ/ build·ing

Meaning & Definition of Building

Building (noun)

  1. a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling)
  2. the art or business of assembling materials into a structure

Building (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity

    "English class will be in that big stone building over there"

    similar: edifice, structure
    related: construction, erection, bungalow, cabin, chalet, cottage, house, lodge, summerhouse, hovel, hut, hutment, shack, shanty, shed, castle, château, estate, hall, manor, mansion, palace, pile, villa, skyscraper, tower

Building (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to form by putting together parts or materials

    "he spent hours building a model airplane from a kit"

    similar: assembling, confecting, constructing, erecting, fabricating, making, making up, piecing, putting up, raising, rearing, setting up, putting together
    related: carpentering, fashioning, forging, framing, hammering, handcrafting, manufacturing, molding, producing, shaping, prefabricating, beginning, coining, creating, generating, inaugurating, initiating, innovating, inventing, originating, constituting, establishing, fathering, founding, instituting, organizing, conceiving, concocting, contriving, cooking (up), designing, devising, imagining, thinking (up), reassembling, rebuilding, reconstructing, redeveloping, reedifying (British), retrofitting, jerry-building, rigging (up), throwing up, combining, uniting
    opposite: demounting, disassembling, dismantling, dismembering, knocking down, striking, taking down, tearing down
    near: demolishing, destroying, devastating, flattening, leveling, pulling down, pulverizing, razing, ruinating, ruining, shattering, smashing, wrecking, blowing up, exploding, detaching, disengaging, disconnecting, disjoining, disuniting, dividing, separating

Related Entry: Build (verb)

Build is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for build, not for building.

  1. to form by putting together parts or materials

    "he spent hours building a model airplane from a kit"

    similar: assemble, confect, construct, erect, fabricate, make, make up, piece, put up, raise, rear, set up, put together
    related: carpenter, fashion, forge, frame, hammer, handcraft, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, prefabricate, begin, coin, create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up), reassemble, rebuild, reconstruct, redevelop, reedify (British), retrofit, jerry-build, rig (up), throw up, combine, unite
    opposite: demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down
    near: demolish, destroy, devastate, flatten, level, pull down, pulverize, raze, ruin, ruinate, shatter, smash, wreck, blow up, explode, detach, disengage, disconnect, disjoin, disunite, divide, separate

Related Entry: Building block (noun)

Building block is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for building block, not for building.

  1. one of the parts that make up a whole

    "historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies"

    similar: component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient, member
    related: basis, part and parcel, detail, item, particular, point, aspect, characteristic, facet, feature, trait, division, fragment, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, sector, segment, subcomponent
    opposite: whole
    near: aggregate, composite, compound, mass, entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, admixture, amalgam, amalgamation, blend, combination, intermixture, mix, mixture

Related Entry: Building blocks (noun)

Building blocks is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for building blocks, not for building.

  1. one of the parts that make up a whole

    "historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies"

    similar: components, constituents, elements, factors, ingredients, members
    related: bases, part and parcels, details, items, particulars, points, aspects, characteristics, facets, features, traits, divisions, fragments, particles, partitions, pieces, portions, sections, sectors, segments, subcomponents
    opposite: wholes
    near: aggregates, composites, compounds, masses, entireties, summations, sums, totalities, totals, admixtures, amalgamations, amalgams, blends, combinations, intermixtures, mixes, mixtures

Related Entry: Building up (verb)

Building up is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for building up, not for building.

  1. to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

    "static electricity built up on the cat's fur"

    similar: accelerating, accumulating, appreciating, ballooning, booming, burgeoning, climbing, enlarging, escalating, expanding, gaining, increasing, mounting, multiplying, mushrooming, proliferating, rising, rolling up, snowballing, spreading, swelling, waxing
    related: jumping, rocketing, skyrocketing, surging, heightening, intensifying, redoubling, blowing up, bulking, distending, inflating, puffing (up), crescendoing, cresting, peaking
    opposite: contracting, decreasing, diminishing, dwindling, lessening, receding, waning

  2. to gradually increase in

    "the roller coaster built up momentum"

    similar: gaining, gathering, growing (in), picking up
    related: doubling (in), tripling (in), accruing, accumulating, amassing, exciting, stimulating, enhancing, enlarging, enriching, expanding, extending, maximizing, boosting, elevating, jacking (up), mounting, ramping (up), stepping up
    opposite: decreasing (in), losing
    near: abating, declining (in), diminishing (in), dipping, dwindling, falling (in), lessening, tapering, tapering off

  3. to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass

    "evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels"

    similar: accreting, accumulating, amassing, collecting, concentrating, conglomerating, gathering, massing, piling (up), stacking (up)
    related: agglutinating, clumping, lumping, banking, drifting, ridging
    near: dispersing, dissipating, scattering

  4. to make greater in size, amount, or number

    "he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades"

    "the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele"

    similar: accelerating, adding (to), aggrandizing, amplifying, augmenting, boosting, compounding, enlarging, escalating, expanding, extending, hyping, increasing, multiplying, pumping up, raising, stoking, supersizing, swelling, upping
    related: booming, jumping, skyrocketing, spiking, bumping (up), ratcheting (up), blowing up, dilating, distending, inflating, drawing out, elongating, fleshing (out), lengthening, prolonging, protracting, stretching, developing, enhancing, heightening, intensifying, magnifying, complementing, supplementing, beefing (up), reinforcing, strengthening, maximizing, accumulating, amassing, collecting, following up, parlaying
    opposite: abating, decreasing, de-escalating, diminishing, downsizing, dwindling, lessening, lowering, minifying, reducing, subtracting (from)
    near: abbreviating, abridging, curtailing, shortening, compressing, condensing, constricting, contracting, cutting back, retrenching

Related Entry: Building a fire under (phrase)

Building a fire under is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for building a fire under, not for building.

  1. to rouse to strong feeling or action

    "He was a well-known self-help guru who could build a fire under anyone to finally take those next steps."

    similar: arousing, encouraging, exciting, firing (up), impassioning, inciting, instigating, moving, piquing, provoking, revving (up), sparking, stimulating, stirring
    related: fanning, igniting, inflaming, kindling, triggering, activating, animating, driving, energizing, galvanizing, inducing, inspiring, keying (up), motivating, motiving, pumping up, quickening, setting off, vitalizing, abetting, fermenting, fomenting, raising, whipping (up), angering, enraging, maddening, upsetting, jeering, taunting, teasing, aggravating, annoying, bothering, exasperating, galling, getting, irritating, vexing
    near: calming, soothing, subduing, tranquilizing, appeasing, mollifying, pacifying, placating

Related Entry: Apartment building (noun)

Apartment building is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for apartment building, not for building.

  1. as in apartment house, tenement house

    similar: apartment house, tenement house, gallery, wing, bed-sitter (British), cohousing, condo, condominium, duplex, duplex apartment, efficiency, efficiency apartment, flatlet (British), floor-through, garden apartment, granny flat (chiefly British), maisonette, penthouse, railroad flat, salon, saloon (chiefly British), studio, studio apartment, triplex, walk-up, apartment, diggings (chiefly British), digs, flat (chiefly British), lodgings, suite, tenement

Related Entry: Jerry-building (verb)

Jerry-building is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for jerry-building, not for building.

  1. as in throwing up, rigging (up)

    similar: rigging (up), throwing up, reassembling, rebuilding, reconstructing, redeveloping, reedifying (British), retrofitting, combining, uniting, conceiving, concocting, contriving, cooking (up), designing, devising, imagining, thinking (up), constituting, establishing, fathering, founding, instituting, organizing, beginning, coining, creating, generating, inaugurating, initiating, innovating, inventing, originating, prefabricating, carpentering, fashioning, forging, framing, hammering, handcrafting, manufacturing, molding, producing, shaping, assembling, building, confecting, constructing, erecting, fabricating, making, making up, piecing, putting up, raising, rearing, setting up
    opposite: demounting, disassembling, dismantling, dismembering, knocking down, striking, taking down, tearing down, demolishing, destroying, devastating, flattening, leveling, pulling down, pulverizing, razing, ruinating, ruining, shattering, smashing, wrecking, blowing up, exploding, detaching, disengaging, disconnecting, disjoining, disuniting, dividing, separating

Related Entry: Build up (verb)

Build up is a different word from Building. The synonyms below are for build up, not for building.

  1. to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

    "static electricity built up on the cat's fur"

    similar: accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
    related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

  2. to gradually increase in

    "the roller coaster built up momentum"

    similar: gain, gather, grow (in), pick up
    related: double (in), triple (in), accrue, accumulate, amass, excite, stimulate, enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize, boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step up
    opposite: decrease (in), lose
    near: abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off

  3. to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass

    "evidence that the toxic chemical builds up in the bloodstream to unhealthy levels"

    similar: accrete, accumulate, amass, collect, concentrate, conglomerate, gather, mass, pile (up), stack (up)
    related: agglutinate, clump, lump, bank, drift, ridge
    near: disperse, dissipate, scatter

  4. to make greater in size, amount, or number

    "he patiently built up his coin collection over several decades"

    "the young stockbroker worked hard to build up a clientele"

    similar: accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up
    related: boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, supplement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay
    opposite: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)
    near: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Building

The most common words with a similar meaning to Building:

edifice, structure, assembling, confecting, constructing, erecting, fabricating, making, making up, piecing, putting up, raising, rearing, setting up, putting together

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Building

Words with the opposite meaning of Building:

demounting, disassembling, dismantling, dismembering, knocking down, striking, taking down, tearing down

Related Words for Building

construction, erection, bungalow, cabin, chalet, cottage, house, lodge, summerhouse, hovel, hut, hutment, shack, shanty, shed, castle, château, estate, hall, manor, mansion, palace, pile, villa, skyscraper, tower, carpentering, fashioning, forging, framing

Near Antonyms of Building

demolishing, destroying, devastating, flattening, leveling, pulling down, pulverizing, razing, ruinating, ruining, shattering, smashing, wrecking, blowing up, exploding, detaching, disengaging, disconnecting, disjoining, disuniting, dividing, separating

Origin & Etymology of Building

Middle English bildyng, buldyng, from bilden, buylden, bulden "to build:1" + -yng -ing:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Building

Words & Phrases Containing Building

building block, building society, apartment building, sick building syndrome, team building, world-building

Frequently Asked Questions about Building

What does "Building" mean?

"Building" means a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling). It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Building"?

Other words for "Building" include edifice, structure, assembling, confecting, constructing, erecting, fabricating and making. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Building" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Building"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Building". Common alternatives include edifice, structure, assembling, confecting, constructing, erecting, fabricating, making, making up and piecing.

What is the opposite of "Building"?

Antonyms of "Building" include demounting, disassembling, dismantling, dismembering, knocking down, striking, taking down and tearing down. Near antonyms include demolishing, destroying, devastating and flattening.

How do you use "Building" in a sentence?

Examples of "Building" in a sentence: "English class will be in that big stone building over there"; "he spent hours building a model airplane from a kit".

Is "Building" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Building" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Building" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Building" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Building"?

"Building" is pronounced /ˈbil-diŋ/ and divided into syllables as build·ing.