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Achieve vs Build - What's the difference?

achieve | build | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between achieve and build

is that achieve is to succeed in something, now especially in academic performance while build is to develop in magnitude or extent.

In transitive terms the difference between achieve and build

is that achieve is to obtain, or gain (a desired result, objective etc.), as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win while build is to establish a basis for (something).

As a noun build is

(physique) The physique of a human body; constitution or structure of a human body.

achieve

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete )

Verb

(achiev)
  • To succeed in something, now especially in academic performance.
  • To carry out successfully; to accomplish.
  • * I. Taylor
  • Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be achieved in any line by the aid of a capital, invigorating motive than without it.
  • (obsolete) To conclude, finish, especially successfully.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queene) , III.1:
  • Full many Countreyes they did overronne, / From the uprising to the setting Sunne, / And many hard adventures did atchieve [...].
  • To obtain, or gain (a desired result, objective etc.), as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=January 22, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
  • , title= Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4) , passage=Bradford may have lost on the night but they stubbornly protected a 3-1 first-leg advantage to emulate a feat last achieved by Rochdale in 1962.}}
  • * (William Shakespeare), (Twelfth Night), II-v
  • Some are born great, some achieve greatness.
  • *
  • Thou hast achieved our liberty.
  • (obsolete) To conclude, to turn out.
  • * Prior
  • Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved .
  • * (William Shakespeare), (Othello), II-i
  • He hath achieved a maid / That paragons description.

    Synonyms

    * accomplish, effect, fulfil, fulfill, complete, execute, perform, realize, obtain. See accomplish

    Derived terms

    * achievement * achiever

    build

    English

    Verb

  • (lb) To form (something) by combining materials or parts.
  • *
  • *:Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. No omnibus, cab, or conveyance ever built could contain a young man in such a rage. His mother lived at Pembridge Square, which is four good measured miles from Lincoln's Inn.
  • *
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=A chap named Eleazir Kendrick and I had chummed in together the summer afore and built a fish-weir and shanty at Setuckit Point, down Orham way. For a spell we done pretty well.}}
  • To develop or give form to (something) according to a plan or process.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author=(Oliver Burkeman)
  • , volume=189, issue=2, page=27, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= The tao of tech , passage=The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about […], or offering services that let you
  • (lb) To increase or strengthen (something) by adding gradually to.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.}}
  • (lb) To establish a basis for (something).
  • (lb) To form by combining materials or parts.
  • (lb) To develop in magnitude or extent.
  • Usage notes

    * The simple past tense and past participle used to be builded; however, that form is now archaic, having been superseded by the form .

    Synonyms

    * (to form by combining materials or parts) construct, erect * (to develop or give form to according to a plan or process) create * (to increase or strengthen by adding gradually to) build up, enlarge, increase, strengthen * (to establish a basis for) base, found, ground

    Antonyms

    * (to form by combining materials or parts) demolish, destroy, ruin, wreck * (to increase or strengthen by adding gradually to) decrease, dissipate, weaken

    Derived terms

    * build a fire under * build castles in the air * build in * build into * build on * build on sand * build-to * build up * build upon * prebuild

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid) The physique of a human body; constitution or structure of a human body.
  • Rugby players are of sturdy build .
  • (computing) any of various versions of a software product as it is being developed for release to users
  • The computer company has introduced a new prototype build to beta testers.
  • (Internet slang) a structure, nominally an abbreviation of building (see usage notes below).
  • I made a build that looked like the Parthenon in that game.

    Usage notes

    * As internet slang, although the word is nominally an abbreviation of "building", the slang term can refer to any structure or formation created by the player e.g. a statue, a pool, or even a forest.