building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling)

2

: the art or business of assembling materials into a structure

Synonyms of building

• structure
• house
• edifice

Examples of building in a Sentence

My office is in that small brick building.

We bought the land for building.

Recent Examples on the Web

States and cities that have loosened building constraints are already seeing slower rent growth compared to heavily regulated markets. —J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026

The indictment claims that the sheriff and two of his employees operated Disinfect Pro Master, which received a $500,000 contract to disinfect the buildings of a local school district. —Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026

However, in Spain, totality occurs shortly before sunset, meaning hills, mountains, or buildings might block the view. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Overnight into January 9, a massive attack left 6,000 buildings without power in Kyiv alone. —Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing building

• apartment building
• building block
• building society
• sick building syndrome
• world building

Rhymes for building

• gilding
• boatbuilding
• outbuilding
• rebuilding
• roadbuilding
• shipbuilding
• upbuilding
• bodybuilding

Kids Definition

building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a permanent structure built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity or for storage

an office building

2

: the art, work, or business of assembling materials into a structure