build

/bɪld/

//bɪld// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"build" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“build” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #963. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#963
frequency rank, English
4,121
“B” headwords
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To form (something) by combining materials or parts.

Corpus desk

Index EN-build · build · English

build · rank #963 · 7 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-CORE #963
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 7 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,121
  • PHOTO-FINISH box

Nearest frequency peer: box (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “build”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “build” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

build vs bull
60% similar
build vs bulk
60% similar
build vs bulb
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for build
PropertyValue
Headwordbuild
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/bɪld/
Letters5
Frequency rank#963
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “build” sits in English frequency

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).build lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 7 spelling variants around build (IPA /bɪld/), averb. Corpus frequency is #963 among 4,121 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 8 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for build, with forms such as "bbuild", "biuld", and "buidl". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "bull", "bulk", "bulb", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan Old English bytlan Middle English bylden English build From Middle English bilden, bulden, bylden, from Old English byldan and bytlan, bytlian (“to build”), from Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan (“to build”), from P… The correct English form is build, spelled B-U-I-L-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    To form (something) by combining materials or parts.
  2. 2
    To develop or give form to (something) according to a plan or process.
  3. 3
    To increase or strengthen (something) by adding gradually to.
  4. 4
    To establish a basis for (something).
  5. 5
    To form by combining materials or parts.
  6. 6
    To develop in magnitude or extent.
  7. 7
    To construct (software) by compiling its source code.
  8. 8
    To be converted into software by compilation, usually with minimal human intervention.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how build appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize, / With curious Corbes and pendants grauen faire, [...]
  2. Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. No omnibus, cab, or conveyance ever built could contain a young man in such a rage. His mother lived at Pembridge Square, which is four good measured miles from Lincoln's Inn.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan Old English bytlan Middle English bylden English build From Middle English bilden, bulden, bylden, from Old English byldan and bytlan, bytlian (“to build”), from Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan (“to build”), from Proto-Germanic *buþlą, *bōþlą (“house, dwelling, farm”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to become, grow, thrive, be, live, dwell”). Related to Old English botl (“building, house”). More at bottle.

Synonyms

constructerectcreatebuild upenlargeincreasestrengthenbasefoundgroundartificeassemblebetimberbuildcompileedifyextructfabricatefashionformknock upmakemanufactureproduceput togetherput upraisereartimberupbuild

Antonyms

demolishdestroyruinwreckdecreasedissipateweakendisassembledismantleknock downrazetake aparttear down

This word in other languages

construir(Español)construire(Français)bauen(Deutsch)construir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • bbuild
  • biuld
  • buidl
  • buildd
  • builld
  • bulid
  • ubild

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of build - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

bbuild1biuld2buidl2buildd1builld1bulid2ubild2
Edit distance from "build"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "build"?
"build" is spelled B-U-I-L-D. The IPA pronunciation is /bɪld/.
What does "build" mean?
As a verb, "build" means: To form (something) by combining materials or parts.
What words are commonly confused with "build"?
"build" is commonly confused with "bull", "bulk", "bulb". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "build"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "build" is /bɪld/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "build"?
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan Old English bytlan Middle English bylden English build From Middle English bilden, bulden, bylden, from Old English byldan and bytlan, bytlian (“to build”), from Proto-West Germanic *buþlijan (“to build... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "build", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 5 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

cases#965truth#960table#958sleep#957

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).

Europe7 variantsvisit7 variantswrote7 variantssuccess7 variants

What to do next

You've looked up "build". Here's where to go from here.

  • "build" maps to 20 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "bull". View pair
  • 7 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #963 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "B" letter cohort. B–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list