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Synonyms

builder

American  
[bil-der] / ˈbɪl dər /

noun

  1. a person who builds.

  2. a person who constructs buildings under contract or as a speculation.

  3. a substance, as an abrasive or filler, added to soaps or other cleaning agents to increase their effectiveness.

builder British  
/ ˈbɪldə /

noun

  1. a person who builds, esp one who contracts for and supervises the construction or repair of buildings

  2. a substance added to a soap or detergent as a filler or abrasive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

The house builder had previously flagged the transition of both roles, but the timeline might be confusing as it had previously said that the search for a new CEO could take until March 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Kim upgraded the PulteGroup and luxury builder Toll Brothers to Outperform, along with the materials company Masco.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

A common rule of thumb for builder investors is buy the stocks when they trade at one-times book value and sell at two-times book value.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

The author is a community builder, writer and yoga teacher.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It was this kind of willful, wildly romantic attention to beauty—crumbling and fading beauty needing constant attention—that made this city so unlike any other and such an unparalleled sort of environment for a builder.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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.