noun
buildup
BIHL-duhp
noun
1
A gradual increase or accumulation of something over time.
"There was a slow buildup of tension before the announcement."
"Doctors found a buildup of plaque in the artery."
How to Use Buildup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gradual piling-up of something — pressure, tension, material, or numbers.
Common pairings
a buildup of pressure
military buildup
gradual buildup
Word Forms
buildups plural
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There was a slow _____ of tension before the announcement.
Etymology
Formed from the phrasal verb "build up," turned into a single noun.