build upon itself

USAGE SUMMARY

"build upon itself" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to grow or develop gradually and in a self-sustaining manner. Example: Technology continues to build upon itself, with each new innovation leading to even more advancements.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The ideal bedtime story, according to Nitun Verma, a national spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, is one that "doesn't build upon itself," like a movie "with a lot of parallel stories that don't connect at the end".

The New Yorker

The initial impetus for the British VFX industry, he says, came from the Harry Potter series, which began filming in 2000 at Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire, and supplied "a good steady stream of work that could build upon itself – similar work each time – and that gave a backbone around which to build an industry".

The Guardian - Film

According to Beeman, the episode would start very calm and then begin to build upon itself.

Wikipedia

Thus science can build upon itself as it is supposed to do.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It built upon itself like an avalanche.

The New York Times - Sports

"Obviously, confidence builds upon itself," said Furyk, who tied for ninth at the Canadian Open.

The New York Times - Sports

He missed the birdie putt, but the iron shot gave him the impetus he needed to continue what became a full-on assault on the course, a round that "just kind of built upon itself," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The result is somewhat magical, where momentum builds upon itself.

TechCrunch

Systematic Conservation Planning is a flexible, recursive process that builds upon itself to continuously allow room for improvement.

Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene

Success builds upon itself, and in so doing, makes the journey more fun.

TechCrunch

Improving these deficiencies will allow future studies to perform equitable and comparable assessments, thus creating a synergistic set of literature that continuously builds upon itself rather than generates independent and isolated conclusions.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "build upon itself" to describe a process where each step naturally extends from the previous one, creating a compounding effect. For instance, "A good educational curriculum should build upon itself, with each year's lessons reinforcing and expanding on the knowledge gained in previous years."

Common error

Be mindful of using "build upon itself" in contexts where the idea of gradual growth is already implied. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or verbose. Prefer simpler alternatives if the context is straightforward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build upon itself" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of incremental growth or development where each stage or element adds to and enhances the previous one. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with multiple examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "build upon itself" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe processes of progressive and self-reinforcing growth. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds application across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific research and formal business communications. While its register leans towards neutral to formal, its utility in conveying incremental development is widely acknowledged. When writing, use this phrase to add color to the description of how something self amplifies and develops into something more. Alternatives like "grow incrementally" or "develop progressively" can offer slight shifts in emphasis. The phrase implies a compounding effect and is effective in various professional and academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow incrementally

This alternative focuses on the step-by-step nature of the growth process.

develop progressively

This alternative highlights the ongoing and forward-moving aspect of the development.

accumulate gradually

This alternative emphasizes the gathering or amassing of something over time.

escalate continuously

This alternative suggests a steady increase in intensity or magnitude.

expand steadily

This alternative focuses on a consistent and unwavering increase in size or scope.

compound over time

This alternative highlights how the effects or results increase with each iteration.

reinforce cyclically

The change is iterative, reinforcing the initial action.

amplify consistently

This alternative emphasizes a steady increase in volume or impact.

increase exponentially

This alternative suggests an accelerated pace of growth.

advance in stages

This alternative specifies progression through defined levels.

FAQs

How can I use "build upon itself" in a sentence?

You can use "build upon itself" to describe systems or processes that grow and develop incrementally, where each new development is based on previous ones. For example, "Scientific knowledge tends to "build upon itself", with new discoveries expanding our understanding of what was previously known."

What are some alternatives to "build upon itself"?

Alternatives include "grow incrementally", "develop progressively", or "accumulate gradually", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "builds upon itself" instead of "build upon itself"?

Yes, "builds upon itself" is the correct form when the subject is singular or third-person singular (e.g., "The business model builds upon itself"). "Build upon itself" is used in contexts where the subject is plural or in the infinitive form.

What is the difference between "build upon" and "build upon itself"?

"Build upon" implies adding to an existing foundation or structure, whereas "build upon itself" emphasizes the self-sustaining and compounding nature of the growth or development process.