What does build mean?
To build is to construct something by fitting parts or materials together, whether a physical structure like a house or bridge, or something abstract such as a career, a reputation, or a relationship. The verb also describes gradual development: muscles build with training, tension builds in a story, and savings build over time. As a noun, 'build' can refer to a person's bodily frame ('an athletic build') or, in computing, to a particular version of compiled software. Its past tense is the irregular 'built', a form so firmly established that 'builded' never appears in standard use. The word carries strongly positive connotations of creation, effort, and progress, appearing in countless idioms about growth and achievement. Derived forms include 'builder', 'building', and 'rebuild', making it a highly productive member of everyday English vocabulary across both literal and figurative uses.
To construct something by putting parts or materials together; to create or develop something gradually.
"The children used blocks to build a tall tower."
Past tense and past participle are the irregular 'built'.
The shape or physical proportions of a person's body; also, in computing, a compiled version of a program.
"He has a lean, muscular build."
The computing sense ('the latest build') is standard technical terminology.
(Computing) A version of a software program produced at a particular stage of development.
"The team released a new build of the app every week."
Used chiefly in computing to refer to multiple versions of software; rarely pluralized in other senses.
"Nightly builds let testers try new features before each official release."
Before the word 'building' existed as a noun, people simply called a house itself a 'bold' — the very root that gave us 'build'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of build
The verb 'build' comes from the Old English 'byldan', meaning to construct a house, which itself derived from 'bold', an Old English word for a dwelling or dwelling-place. It is therefore one of the few common English verbs rooted not in Latin or French but in native Germanic vocabulary. The noun senses, including the computing sense, developed later from the verb through ordinary conversion.
Related word forms
How build is actually used
The past tense and past participle is the irregular form 'built' — never 'builded'. The noun sense describing body type ('a muscular build') is common in informal speech. In computing contexts, 'a build' refers to a compiled version of software and is standard technical jargon.
Easily confused with build
'Built' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'build', not a separate word.