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. |
Synonyms of “build”
- construct
- erect
- create
- develop
- form
- establish
- fashion
- make
- raise
- shape
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-.
Worksheet: Irregular verbs
They are ___ a new school in our neighborhood.
My uncle ___ his house by himself.
She ___ sandcastles at the beach every summer.
Several new bridges have been ___ in this city.
If you ___ it, they will come.
FAQs
What’s the past tense of “build”?
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How is “built” used in past perfect tense?
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Is “builded” a correct past tense?
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How to distinguish “built” (past) from “built” (participle)?
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What are other examples of verbs like “build”?
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Sources
Sources
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Merriam-Webster, definition of build.
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Etymonline, origin of build.
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Cambridge Dictionary, definition of build.
Yash, D. "How to Use Build or Built? (Irregular Verbs)." Grammarflex, Aug 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/build-or-built/.
