Meaning & use
build people up
Last updated
Meanings
phrasetransitive
to make someone feel more confident, hopeful, or valued by giving praise and support.
Grammar: Takes an object; the object usually comes between build and up: build someone up. The object can also follow up in longer phrases: build up people who need it.
Patterns
- build someone up
- build people up
- build up someone's confidence
Good managers build people up instead of always pointing out their mistakes.
She built me up when I was nervous about the interview.
The teacher's comments really built up his confidence before the exam.
phrasetransitive or intransitive
to increase the number, strength, or size of a group of people or things gradually.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (build up an army) or without one (the army built up along the border). The object can go between build and up or after up.
Patterns
- build up an army
- build up support
- build up gradually
The company built up its sales team over three years.
Support for the new law built up slowly.
They are building up their forces in the region.
Common combinations
- build up someone's confidence
- Her kind words built up my confidence.
- build people up
- A good coach builds people up rather than tearing them down.
- build up a team
- It takes time to build up a strong team.
- build someone up to do something
- He built her up to apply for the job.
Synonyms and how they differ
- encourage
- Encourage is more general and can mean giving someone courage or support; build up emphasizes making someone feel better about themselves over time.
- praise
- Praise means saying good things about someone; build up suggests a continuing effect on their confidence.
- boost
- Boost is often used with confidence or morale and suggests a quick increase; build up suggests a gradual process.
Opposites
Word family
- build-up noun
- A gradual increase or preparation, as in a build-up of tension.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'build people up' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The object 'people' normally goes between build and up: build people up. Option An is less natural because 'up' is separated from its particle in a way that sounds awkward here; option C splits the phrase incorrectly, and option D puts the object in the wrong place.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “build people up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.