How to Use Build or Built? (Irregular Verbs)

First published on December 18, 2022 by Dalia Y.|Last revised on October 23, 2025

To build is in the present tense. Built is both the past tense and the past participle of build.

How to Use Build or Built? (Irregular Verbs)

What's the past tense of "build"?

The simple past tense of build is built, and the past participle is also built. Use built for both simple past and past participle forms.

Definition of build

The Oxford English Dictionary defines build as "to make by putting together materials, parts, etc.; to construct; erect." It's used in various contexts, from physical construction to developing ideas or relationships.

The past tense of build is built.

The past participle of build is built.

Verb forms of 'build'

Simple Cont. Perfect Perfect Cont.

Present

I/you/they build • He/she/it builds

Past

I/you/they built • He/she/it built

Future

I/you/they will build • He/she/it will build

Present

I am/you are building • He/she/it is building

Past

I was/you were building • He/she/it was building

Future

I/you will be building • He/she/it will be building

Present

I/you have built • He/she/it has built

Past

I/you had built • He/she/it had built

Future

I/you will have built • He/she/it will have built

Present

I have been building • He/she/it has been building

Past

I had been building • He/she/it had been building

Future

I will have been building • He/she/it will have been building

Is "build" a regular or irregular verb?

Answer: Build is an irregular verb— its past conjugations are built in all cases.

Note: Regular verbs end in -ed in the past tense. Any other verb ending is considered irregular.

The verb build is irregular. Its past tense and past participle forms are both built, not "builded." This is a pattern shared with a small group of English verbs, and it's important to recognize when using "build" in different contexts.

Similar irregular verbs

Like build, these verbs have different past tense and past participle forms that don't follow the regular -ed pattern.

build

Past: built

Past part: built

Past part: leapt/leaped

lean

Past: leant/leaned

Past part: leant/leaned

smell

Past: smelled/smelt

Past part: smelt/smelled

When to use "built" (past) vs. "built" (participle)

He built the deck last spring.

The house was built in 1920.

The participle form of a verb (shown in the second sentence) uses the auxiliary verb was.

When auxiliaries like was, were, have, or had appear in the same sentence as a past participle verb form, this indicates that the verb's aspect is in the present or past perfect, and not the simple past tense.

Remember, a participle always uses a helper verb to form the complete tense or aspect. Simple tenses, on the other hand, can stand on their own.

Sentence examples: build, built, built

Build (present tense)

• The children went to the beach to build a tall sand castle.

• If you build it they will come.

• A construction company was hired to build the couple's home.

Built (past simple)

• 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.

Built (present or past perfect)

• The house was built in 1920.

• She had built a successful business before retiring.

• The pyramids were built by ancient Egyptians.

Synonyms & nearby words

Synonyms for build

construct erect create develop form establish fashion make raise shape

Nearby phrases

build up build on build in build out build upon build bridges

Origin of the verb "build"

Middle English bilden, from late Old English byldan "construct a house," verb form of bold "house," from Proto-Germanic *buthla-. Brief historical context about the word's development.

Practice: "Build" conjugations

FAQs

What's the past tense of "build"?

The simple past tense of "build" is "built." The past participle is also "built." Both forms are identical.

How is "built" used in past perfect tense?

"Built" functions as the past participle in the past perfect tense. This tense indicates an action completed before another past action. For example, "She had built a successful business before retiring."

Is "builded" a correct past tense?

No, "builded" is not a grammatically correct past tense form of "build." The correct past tense and past participle are both "built." Using "builded" is incorrect.

How to distinguish "built" (past) from "built" (participle)?

While both simple past and past participle forms of "build" are "built," context differentiates them. Simple past ("The boy built a castle") describes a completed action. Past participle ("She had built a business") requires an auxiliary verb.

What are other examples of verbs like "build"?

There are several irregular verbs similar to "build," where the past tense and past participle are the same: "sleep/slept/slept," "leap/leapt/leaped," "lean/leant/leaned," and "smell/smelled/smelt."

Sources

Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner. "Build, v." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of build." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/build. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Merriam-Webster, definition of build. Cambridge Dictionary, definition of build. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.