build up

enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages

• “build up your savings”

form or accumulate steadily

• “Resistance to the manager”
• “;”

prepare oneself for a military confrontation

• “The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East”
• “troops are building up on the Iraqui border”

bolster or strengthen

• “We worked up courage”
• “build up confidence”
• “ramp up security in the airports”

change the use of and make available or usable

• “develop land”
• “The country developed its natural resources”
• “The remote areas of the country were gradually built up”