Home > Antonyms > Antonyms for build upon

Antonyms for build upon

Grammar : Verb
Spell : bild
Phonetic Transcription : bɪld

Definition of build upon

Origin :
  • late Old English byldan "construct a house," verb form of bold "house," from Proto-Germanic *buthlam (cf. Old Saxon bodl, Old Frisian bodel "building, house"), from PIE *bhu- "to dwell," from root *bheue- "to be, exist, grow" (see be). Rare in Old English; in Middle English it won out over more common Old English timbran (see timber). Modern spelling is unexplained. Figurative use from mid-15c. Of physical things other than buildings from late 16c. Related: Builded (archaic); built; building.
  • In the United States, this verb is used with much more latitude than in England. There, as Fennimore Cooper puts it, everything is BUILT. The priest BUILDS up a flock; the speculator a fortune; the lawyer a reputation; the landlord a town; and the tailor, as in England, BUILDS up a suit of clothes. A fire is BUILT instead of made, and the expression is even extended to individuals, to be BUILT being used with the meaning of formed. [Farmer, "Slang and Its Analogues," 1890]
  • As in rely on : verb depend
  • As in depend : verb count on, rely upon
Example sentences :
  • Let us—you and I—let us build upon it our palace of the spirits.
  • Extract from : « A Spirit in Prison » by Robert Hichens
  • When we met first and loved, I did not build Upon the event with marble.
  • Extract from : « Sonnets from the Portuguese » by Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
  • Already, as you know, I am half English; there is something to build upon.
  • Extract from : « Michael » by E. F. Benson
  • I confess, a very fair foundation for a lover to build upon.
  • Extract from : « The Comedies of William Congreve » by William Congreve
  • Not much to build upon, if one wished to worry Claire, or other people.
  • Extract from : « The Art of Disappearing » by John Talbot Smith
  • Land is a thing, and any person may make it into a farm or garden and build upon it his home.
  • Extract from : « Usury » by Calvin Elliott
  • So much the better if we get the rock to build upon once more.
  • Extract from : « Expositions of Holy Scripture » by Alexander Maclaren
  • I build upon every word, every look, every smile I can call to mind.
  • Extract from : « Mr. Punch's Book of Love » by Various
  • The only rational way is to find what is good in what is, and build upon it.
  • Extract from : « The Principles of Economics » by Frank A. Fetter
  • But I do build upon it, for I have trust in God and in good men.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, No. 421, November 1850 » by Various

Synonyms for build upon

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019