# build

> English word · Verb · IPA /bɪld/ · frequency rank #963

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

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **bull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bull)
- **bulk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bulk)
- **bulb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bulb)
- **bund** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bund)
- **built** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-built)
- **bulls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bulls)
- **bully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-bully)
- **burly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-burly)
- **buried** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-buried)
- **builds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-builds)
- **busily** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-busily)
- **builder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-builder)
- **buildup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/build-vs-buildup)
- **BID** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bid-vs-build)
- **bud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bud-vs-build)
- **Bui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bui-vs-build)
- **bill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bill-vs-build)
- **bird** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-build)
- **bold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bold-vs-build)
- **bail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bail-vs-build)

## Common misspellings (7)
`bbuild`, `biuld`, `buidl`, `buildd`, `builld`, `bulid`, `ubild`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/build