BUILD UP

Enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages

Example: "Build up your savings"

Form or accumulate steadily

Example: "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"

• build  8
• progress  11
• work up

Prepare oneself for a military confrontation

Example: "The u.s. is girding for a conflict in the middle east"

• arm  5
• fortify  16
• gird  6

• re-arm
• rearm  7
• forearm  12

Bolster or strengthen

Example: "We worked up courage"

• build  8
• ramp up
• work up

Change the use of and make available or usable

Example: "Develop land"

• develop  13

• ameliorate  12
• amend  8
• better  8
• improve  14
• meliorate  11

• redevelop  15
• settle  6