build in strength

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "build in strength" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the process of increasing resilience or capacity in a person, organization, or system. For example, "The training program is designed to help participants build in strength over time." Alternative expressions include "develop strength" and "increase resilience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Where available, layers of different sorts of earth, such as clay, gravel and chalk, would be used alternatively to build in strength to the design.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Seismologists said the recent activity was unusual because the quakes started out small and had built in strength.

The New York Times

When first seen onstage, there is fatigue in his voice, which builds in strength as he recites his principles of leadership, as if they were mantras.

The New York Times

Scientists have urged residents to prepare for worse, saying the recent activity was unusual because the quakes had begun small and built in strength.

The New York Times

The cult of Farage – and it is a cult; you only need look to the very presence of the "You Can't Barrage the Farage" meme to realise Nigel's Drake-like levels of internet adulation – has built in strength and numbers.

Vice

"The important thing is that observations are now pinning down how the first sources in the universe built up in strength," Sir Martin said.

The New York Times

"The earlier you can come in and build strength in your knees, the better chance you have of avoiding surgery," says Robert Agosto, DPT, director of physical therapy at the Sports and Spine Rehab Clinic in Rockville, MD.

Huffington Post

Oracle President Charles Phillips, who grew to know Hukku over eight months of meal conversations, says the acquisition is a strategic step to build strength in vertical markets in the ongoing war with archrival SAP of Germany.

Forbes

The structures being built in England around strength and conditioning, sports science and academies were not being replicated in France.

The Guardian - Sport

The most effective means for ensuring that the system will survive extreme conditions and wide area disturbances is a high degree of built in redundancy and strength [32].

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Deshpande and co-workers [18] have built in a finite strength via an elastic potential for the integrin-ligand bonds.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use it to describe the intentional addition of layers or materials to ensure structural integrity.

Common error

Avoid using "build in strength" as a single hyphenated unit (e.g., "the built-in-strength") unless you are specifically referring to an inherent, pre-existing quality. When describing a process, keep the words separate to denote active development.

Linguistic Context

In most contexts provided by Ludwig, this phrase acts as an intransitive verb construction denoting a state of progression. The verb "build" indicates development, while the prepositional phrase "in strength" specifies the attribute being developed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for describing increasing resilience or capacity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build in strength" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe the process of becoming more powerful or resilient. According to Ludwig, it is particularly effective in journalistic and technical contexts to describe phenomena like storms, voices, or structural designs that intensify over time. While the exact phrase is somewhat rare compared to its transitive counterpart "build strength in", it is highly recognized in authoritative sources like The New York Times. Writers should use it to emphasize a gradual progression or to describe the incorporation of durability into a system or object. For general growth, alternatives like "grow in strength" or "intensify" are also excellent choices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow in strength

Shifts the focus from active construction to natural or organic progression

gather force

Commonly applied to weather events or political movements

increase in intensity

More precise when describing non-physical phenomena like storms or emotions

intensify

A single-word formal alternative that covers the same semantic ground

gain momentum

Emphasizes the speed and forward motion of the growth rather than just power

build strength in

Transitive variation used when specifying a particular area, such as muscles or a market

fortify

Carries a stronger connotation of defensive or structural reinforcement

develop robustness

Used often in technical or systemic contexts to describe resilience

accumulate power

Focuses on the collection or gathering of resources over time

bolster resilience

Focuses specifically on the ability to withstand pressure or adversity

FAQs

How do I use "build in strength" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe something growing more powerful, for example: "As the hurricane approached the coast, it began to "build in strength"."

What is the difference between "build in strength" and "build strength in"?

The phrase "build in strength" usually describes something becoming stronger overall, while "build strength in" requires a specific object, such as "build strength in your legs."

Can I use "grow in strength" instead?

Yes, "grow in strength" is a very common and natural alternative that fits most contexts where "build in strength" is used.

Is "build in strength" formal enough for academic writing?

It is acceptable, though academic writers often prefer more specific verbs like "intensify" or "augment" depending on the exact meaning.