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BUILD Phrasal Verbs in English: Meanings and Examples

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A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word (a particle) that together make a new meaning. The verb build forms several useful phrasal verbs, and the particle changes the meaning each time: build up, build on, build in and build around.

This guide is for B1 to C1 learners who want to use the most common build phrasal verbs in real conversation, especially in professional and business English. By the end you will know what each one means, see an example of each, learn which ones can be separated by an object, and avoid the mistakes learners make most. Three exercises are on this page so you can practice straight away.

On this page

A quick video summary

What a phrasal verb is

A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle (an adverb or a preposition) to form a single expression. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb completely, so you cannot work out the meaning by translating each word on its own.

The trick is to learn the whole phrase as one unit of meaning. Note that build is an irregular verb: build, built, built. It can be a verb or a noun.

The most useful BUILD phrasal verbs, with examples

Phrasal verb Meaning Example
build up to increase or grow stronger; to develop something over time She built up a successful business over ten years.
build on to use a success or achievement as a base for more We can build on last year’s results.
build in to include something as part of what you make They built in extra storage under the stairs.
build into to make something part of an existing system or structure Safety checks are built into every step of the process.
build around to base something on an idea or principle The whole plan is built around three simple goals.

Phrasal verbs are easy to read and hard to use. The only way they become natural is to use them in conversation. Book a free trial lesson and practice build phrasal verbs with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

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The many meanings of “build up”

Build up is the most common one, and it has several related meanings. The context tells you which one is meant.

Meaning Example
to develop and establish over time It took years to build up his reputation.
to increase or become stronger Pressure built up before the deadline.
to assemble or put together We built up the flat-pack wardrobe in an hour.
to gradually accumulate Traffic builds up at rush hour.

Separable or not: where the object goes

Some build phrasal verbs are separable: the object can go after the phrase or in the middle. When the object is a pronoun (it, them), it must go in the middle.

  • Separable: build up, build in. “Build up your strength” or “build it up” (not “build up it”).
  • Inseparable: build on, build into, build around. The object stays after the phrase: “build on it,” “built into the design.”

Common mistakes with BUILD phrasal verbs

  1. Translating word by word. “Build up” is not “build” plus “up.” Learn the whole phrase as one meaning.
  2. Confusing build up and build on. Build up means develop or increase something; build on means use an existing success as a base for more.
  3. Putting a pronoun after a separable verb. Wrong: “Build up it.” Right: “Build it up.”
  4. Using the wrong form of build. Build is irregular: build, built, built. “He builded up” is wrong; use “built up.”

Practice exercises on BUILD phrasal verbs

Exercise 1. Select the correct phrasal verb in brackets to complete each sentence.

Exercise 2. Decide which phrasal verb of build fits best in each sentence.

Exercise 3. Match the bubbles to form short phrases.

Quick self-check

Choose the right build phrasal verb, then reveal the answers.

1. After his illness, he slowly ____ his strength again. (increase)
2. We should ____ the success of last year’s campaign. (use as a base)
3. They ____ extra safety features ____ the design. (include as part of)

Show answers

1. built up.   2. build on.   3. built … into (or built in).

How did that feel? Recognising a phrasal verb in an exercise is one thing. Reaching for the right one while you speak is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will have you using build phrasal verbs in real sentences within minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “build up” mean?
Build up has several related meanings: to develop and establish something over time (“she built up a business”), to increase or grow stronger (“pressure built up”), and to assemble or put something together (“we built up the flat-pack wardrobe”). The context tells you which one is meant.
What is the difference between build up and build on?
Build up means to develop, increase or assemble something. Build on means to use an existing success or achievement as a base for more progress. “We built up the business” is developing it; “we can build on last year’s success” is going further from a strong starting point.
What does “build in” mean?
Build in means to include something as part of what you make or design, for example “they built in extra storage.” The related form “build into” means to make something part of an existing system, such as “safety checks are built into the process.”
Are build phrasal verbs separable?
Some are. Build up and build in are separable, so a pronoun object must go in the middle (“build it up,” not “build up it”). Others like build on, build into and build around are inseparable, so the object stays after the phrase.
Is “build” a regular verb?
No, build is irregular. Its past simple and past participle are both “built”: build, built, built. So you say “he built up a business,” not “he builded up.”

Key takeaways

  • A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle with a new, combined meaning.
  • Learn the whole phrase, do not translate build and the particle separately.
  • The main ones: build up, build on, build in, build into, build around.
  • Build up develops or increases; build on uses a success as a base for more.
  • Build is irregular (build, built, built); with separable verbs a pronoun goes in the middle (build it up).

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.