noun
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a person who builds, esp one who contracts for and supervises the construction or repair of buildings
-
a substance added to a soap or detergent as a filler or abrasive
Other Word Forms
- underbuilder noun
Etymology
Origin of builder
First recorded in 1350–1400, builder is from the Middle English word bildere. See build, -er 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Reza Akef, a builder in the Palisades and chair of the Pacific Palisades Community Council’s Infrastructure Committee, said people do consider these incentives in deciding what appliances to buy.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, a gauge of builder confidence in the market for newly built single family housing, was 34 in April, down from 38 in March.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Cameco owns a 49% stake in nuclear reactor builder Westinghouse, giving it SMR exposure.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
The author is a community builder, writer and yoga teacher.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
“We’ve got cedars from Lebanon due at the sawmill in Oslo to be turned into shingles for the builder in Cape Cod. C.O.D. And then there’s the peas.”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.