build a picture

USAGE SUMMARY

"build a picture" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an idiom to refer to forming an impression or mental image of a situation, either from statement or facts or from one's own imagination. For example: "The way he described his childhood, I was able to build a picture of what life was like for him at that time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Finding and piecing together artifacts in order to build a picture of the past.

Independent

It claims to build a picture of someone's life - and predict their future movements.

Independent

Help us build a picture of what is really going on by taking our survey.

The Guardian

They can build a picture of how each bird responds to changes in the flight of other birds.

The New York Times - Science

It is a cruel mosaic: countless seemingly unrelated fragments that, when put together, build a picture of power and powerlessness.

The Guardian

Let's look at collaboration and see if we can build a picture of how to keep the fires burning..

The Guardian - Music

We have no paywall - and we continue to build a picture of a unique progressive global community.

The Guardian

Cataphora's software lets firms analyse everything from e-mails to electronic calendars and thus build a picture of typical patterns of communication across their operations.

The Economist

"By bringing all of these together, you can build a picture of the killer's identity and so discount characters from the group of suspects".

Independent

To build a picture I'd want to know if you were paid net of any tax and national insurance deductions during those first two years.

Independent

We are starting to build a picture of a heavy drinker, an aggressive, controlling character and a womaniser – but he doesn't present as a predatory paedophile.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "build a picture" when you want to emphasize the process of gradually forming a comprehensive understanding from multiple pieces of information.

Common error

While "build a picture" is widely acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "develop an understanding" or "form an impression" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build a picture" functions as a verb phrase, typically used transitively to describe the action of creating a comprehensive understanding or impression of something. As Ludwig AI describes, it relates to forming a mental image from statements or facts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build a picture" is a versatile expression used to describe the process of forming an understanding or impression. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It is considered "Very common", particularly within "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. While generally acceptable, its formality can vary, making alternatives like "develop an understanding" more suitable for formal writing. To effectively use "build a picture", emphasize the gradual assembly of information to create a comprehensive view.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

form an impression

Focuses on the subjective feeling or understanding derived.

develop an understanding

Emphasizes the gradual process of gaining knowledge.

piece together information

Highlights the act of combining various pieces of data.

create a mental image

Stresses the visual aspect of understanding.

get a sense of

Implies an intuitive understanding rather than a detailed one.

draw a conclusion

Focuses on reaching a judgment based on available evidence.

formulate a view

Highlights developing a specific opinion or perspective.

assemble the facts

Emphasizes gathering and organizing objective information.

gain insight into

Suggests a deeper, more profound understanding.

shape a perception

Focuses on how something is viewed or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "build a picture" in a sentence?

You can use "build a picture" to describe the process of understanding something by gathering information. For example, "By analyzing the data, we can build a picture of the market trends".

What phrases are similar to "build a picture"?

Similar phrases include "form an impression", "develop an understanding", or "piece together information".

Is "build a picture" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "build a picture" might be perceived as less formal. Consider alternatives like "develop an understanding" or "formulate a view" in formal contexts.

What does it mean to "build a picture" of something?

To "build a picture" of something means to gradually understand it by collecting and combining different pieces of information or observations. It suggests a comprehensive understanding is being developed.