Meaning & use
built
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“built” is a form of “build”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
The past tense and past participle of build: made or put up by joining parts or materials.
Grammar: Past tense of build: they built a bridge; also past participle: it was built in 1990.
Patterns
- built something from something
- be built on something
- built for something
The villagers built a wooden bridge across the stream.
This church was built over six hundred years ago.
She built her business from nothing.
adjectivecomparableinformal
Having a body of a certain type, especially a strong, muscular one.
Grammar: Usually after be or in compounds: well built, heavily built.
Patterns
- well built
- heavily built
- built like something
He is tall and well built, with broad shoulders.
The new coach is built like a wrestler.
Two powerfully built men carried the piano upstairs.
adjectivebefore a noun
Made in a particular way or for a particular purpose.
Grammar: Often part of a compound before a noun: purpose-built, custom-built.
Patterns
- purpose-built
- custom-built
- built to last
The school moved into a purpose-built building.
These boots are built to last for years.
They live in a newly built house near the park.
Word forms
| base form | build |
|---|---|
| third person singular | builds |
| -ing form | building |
Common combinations
- well built
- The cabin is well built and warm in winter.
- built to last
- Their tools are built to last a lifetime.
- purpose-built
- The athletes train in a purpose-built stadium.
- built on
- The friendship was built on trust.
- built from scratch
- He built the website from scratch.
- slightly built
- A slightly built man opened the door.
Synonyms and how they differ
- constructed
- Constructed is more formal and often suggests careful planning of large structures.
- assembled
- Assembled means put together from ready-made parts, as with furniture, while built can involve making parts too.
- made
- Made is the general word and fits any object, while built suits larger structures.
- muscular
- Muscular, for a person, describes strong muscles only, while well built can also mean generally large or sturdy.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: built or billed? built or build?
built vs billed
Billed means charged or announced, as in billed as a hit, and sounds close to built.
built vs build
Learners sometimes write builded, but the past form of build is always built.
Practice
Their grandfather ____ the family cabin by hand, one log at a time.
Choose one answer.
Built is the past tense of build. Builded is not a correct form, and builds and building do not fit a past-time sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “built”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.