built up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Shift by shift, night by night, I slowly built up my confidence working in the bar," he told Die Zeit.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

North Korea, believing that Chinese-style economic reforms would endanger the absolute control of the Kim dynasty, built up a nuclear arsenal to shore up the regime’s power indefinitely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

The country has diversified its energy sources, including into renewables, and had built up its strategic petroleum reserve to a greater extent than others, giving it some extra cushion.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

To be sure, U.S. households are no longer flush with the excess savings built up during the pandemic era.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

“Just as soon as she’s built up the fire and made gruel and tidied the whole cabin. With more than a day’s work waiting here at home.”

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare