build up

verbs

enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages

"build up your savings"

build up

is derived from

is a type of (narrower)

make bigger or more

"The boss finally increased her salary"; "The university increased the number of students it admitted"

form or accumulate steadily

"Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"

build, build up, progress, work up

prepare oneself for a military confrontation

"The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border"

arm, build up, fortify, gird

bolster or strengthen

"We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports"

build, build up, ramp up, work up

change the use of and make available or usable

"develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up"

build up, develop