What’s the past tense of “build”?
Build, builded, or built? What’s the correct past tense of the verb, to build? In this post you’ll find both the short answer and the long answer.
He built the deck last spring.
They builded a treehouse last summer.
Verb forms of build
To build is defined in the dictionary as, “to make by putting together materials, parts, etc.; to construct; erect: build a snowman.”
| Present | Past | Future | |
| simple | I build | I built | I will build |
| continuous | I am building | I was building | I will be building |
| perfect | I have built | I had built | I will have built |
| perfect continuous | I have been building | I had been building | I will have been building |
Is build a regular or irregular verb?
What makes regular and irregular verbs is: Regular verbs end in “-ed” in their past tense and past participle forms. **Irregular verbs** end in something other than “-ed.”
Build is an irregular verb because its past tense forms (`built`) do not end in “-ed.” Here’s a chart of other irregular verbs within the same group.
| Base Verb | Past Tense | Past Participle |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| leap | leapt/leaped | leapt/leaped |
| lean | leant/leaned | leant/leaned |
| smell | smelled/smelt | smelt/smelled |
Build/Built in sentence examples
Since the past verb forms of build are both built, how can we tell whether the participle form of the verb is being used rather than the simple past tense? There’s a foolproof way to spot the difference; compare these examples first:
| Word Form | Examples |
| Present Tense (“build”) |
The children went to the beach to build a tall sand castle several feet high. If you build it they will come. (Field of Dreams) A construction company was hired to build the couple’s home after receiving the blueprint. |
| Past Tense (“built”) |
The boy built a sandcastle. They built the hospital during the town’s upswing in the 1930s. The architect built a stunning design for the building. |
| Past Participle (“built”) |
The house was built in 1920. She had built a successful business before retiring. The pyramids were built by ancient Egyptians. |
Practice using the verb in different tenses with example sentences to memorize the correct forms.
Synonyms of “build”
- construct
- erect
- create
- develop
- form
- establish
- fashion
- make
- raise
- shape
Origin of the verb “build”
From etymology online on build (v.):
| Of Germanic Origin |
| Middle English bilden, from late Old English byldan “construct a house,” verb form of bold “house,” from Proto-Germanic *buthla-. |
Worksheet
What is the past tense of “build”?
Which sentence uses the past participle of “build” correctly?
Identify the correct present tense form of “build” in the third-person singular:
Which sentence correctly uses “build” in the past perfect tense?
What is the present participle of “build”?
They had _______ a new school by the time the new year arrived.
The workers are _______ a bridge across the river.
He _______ a magnificent sandcastle on the beach.
The company will _______ a new factory next year.
Before the storm, they _______ a sturdy shelter.
FAQs
What’s the past tense of “build”?
+
How is “built” used in past perfect tense?
+
Is “builded” a correct past tense?
+
How to distinguish “built” (past) from “built” (participle)?
+
What are other examples of verbs like “build”?
+
Yash, D. "What’s the Past Tense of Build? Build or Built?." Grammarflex, Jun 17, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-past-tense-of-build-build-or-built/.
Sources
Sources
-
Merriam-Webster, definition of build.
-
Etymonline, origin of build.
-
Cambridge Dictionary, definition of build.
