1. build up

enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages

Example Sentences:
'build up your savings'

2. build, build up, progress, work up

form or accumulate steadily

Example Sentences:
'Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly'
'Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border'

• build
• progress
• work up

3. arm, build up, fortify, gird

prepare oneself for a military confrontation

Example Sentences:
'The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East'
'troops are building up on the Iraqi border'

• arm
• fortify
• gird

4. build, build up, ramp up, work up

bolster or strengthen

Example Sentences:
'We worked up courage'
'build up confidence'
'ramp up security in the airports'

• build
• ramp up
• work up

5. build up, develop

change the use of and make available or usable

Example Sentences:
'develop land'
'The country developed its natural resources'
'The remote areas of the country were gradually built up'

• develop