Building And Construction Vocabulary

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

• The blistered paint on the old house needed to be scraped off and repainted.
• I got blistered hands from shoveling the snow all morning.
• She got blistered after spending all day at the beach without sunscreen.
• His blistered ego couldn't handle the rejection.

noun the inner roof or upper lining of a room

• The architect designed the building with a high ceil to allow for ample natural light.
• I bumped my head on the low ceil in the basement.
• Let's hang some cool lights from the ceil for the party.
• The entrepreneur's ambition knew no ceil as he set out to achieve his goals.

verb to reduce the size or amount of something by cutting or chopping

adjective reduced in size or amount

• The government plans to cut down on unnecessary spending in the upcoming budget.
• I really need to cut down on my caffeine intake, it's not good for me.
• I'm trying to cut down on carbs to get in shape for summer.
• She decided to cut down on negative influences in her life to improve her mental health.

noun the basis or groundwork of anything

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The foundation of the new building was laid with precision and care.
• She always said that honesty was the foundation of a strong friendship.
• Dude, your outfit is the foundation of your whole look.
• Education is the foundation upon which we build our future.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb by providing information about the manner, place, time, or degree of the action

• The company heavily invested in research and development to stay ahead of the competition.
• She was heavily focused on finishing her assignment before the deadline.
• He partied heavily last night and now he's feeling the consequences.
• The weight of responsibility was heavily on his shoulders as he made the decision.

adjective large in amount, size, or extent; substantial

• The company imposed a hefty fine on the employee for violating the code of conduct.
• He had to pay a hefty price for missing the deadline on the project.
• She dropped a hefty amount of cash on that new designer handbag.
• The weight of the world felt hefty on his shoulders as he struggled with his personal problems.

adverb In small increments or stages; gradually or little by little.

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The detective will lay to all the evidence presented in court.
• I can't believe you're still laying to your parents about where you were last night.
• She's always laying to her friends about how much money she has.
• The truth will eventually lay to all the rumors and lies circulating about the company.

noun the act of creating or producing something

verb to create, form, or produce something

• It is important to make a detailed plan before starting any project.
• Let's make a quick stop at the store on our way home.
• I can't believe you made that shot, you're a beast!
• She has the ability to make or break a deal with her negotiation skills.

verb to block or hinder (a passage, opening, etc.)

adjective blocked or hindered

• The view of the mountains was obstructed by thick fog.
• I couldn't see the stage because my view was obstructed by tall people.
• The graffiti on the wall obstructed the clean look of the building.
• Her stubbornness obstructed any chance of compromise in the negotiation.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• It took great effort to pry loose the ancient artifact from its resting place.
• I had to really work to pry loose that stubborn screw from the wall.
• I had to use all my strength to pry that thing loose.
• It's hard to pry loose the truth from someone who is determined to keep it hidden.

verb the action of using force to move something towards oneself or away from something

• The worker was pulling the heavy machinery with all his strength.
• I saw him pulling the door open with a lot of effort.
• She was pulling an all-nighter to finish the project on time.
• The singer was pulling at the audience's heartstrings with her emotional performance.

noun the action or process of redoing something

verb to do or perform (something) again

• The architect decided to redo the blueprints for the building to ensure accuracy.
• I think we should redo the presentation slides before the meeting.
• Let's redo this whole outfit, it's not working for you.
• Sometimes in life, we get a chance to redo our mistakes and make things right.

noun a street with a continuous line of houses along one or both of its sides

verb to have a quarrel or dispute

• The students sat quietly in a row during the assembly.
• Let's sit in the front row so we can see better.
• She always sits in the front row, she's such a teacher's pet.
• The team has been on a winning streak, they are really on a row.

verb to delay or be slow in acting or moving

adjective characterized by delay or slowness

adverb in a delayed or slow manner

• The workers were warned not to tarry on their breaks and to return to work promptly.
• Don't tarry too long or we'll miss the movie.
• Let's not tarry around here, we need to get going.
• She didn't want to tarry in the past, but instead focused on moving forward with her life.

noun the action or process of making or becoming thicker

adjective becoming thicker or more dense

• The thickening of the sauce was achieved by adding a roux.
• I noticed the thickening of the plot as I kept reading the book.
• The thickening of traffic on the highway made me late for work.
• The thickening of tension in the room was palpable as they argued.

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'under' indicates location or position beneath something else.

• The report is currently under review by the board of directors.
• I left my umbrella under the table in the restaurant.
• Let's go chill under the bridge this evening.
• She always seems calm on the outside, but there's a lot going on under the surface.

noun a task or activity of pulling or manipulating wires, often used in electrical work

• The electrician demonstrated proper techniques for wire pulling during the training session.
• I could use some help with wire pulling in the garage, it's a bit tricky.
• I'm getting pretty good at the whole wire pulling thing, it's like second nature now.
• His manipulation of the situation was like a masterful wire pulling, subtly guiding events in his favor.

adjective an adjective used to describe something made of wood or resembling wood

• The antique chair was made of high-quality wooden material.
• I love the cozy feeling of sitting on a wooden bench in the park.
• Let's ditch this party and go chill at that cool wooden shack by the beach.
• His words were like wooden blocks, lacking any emotion or depth.

noun a person confined indoors, especially as a result of physical or mental disability

adjective confined to one's home or to a limited space or period of time

• The shut-in population has been greatly affected by the pandemic.
• My neighbor is a bit of a shut-in and rarely leaves the house.
• I used to be a shut-in during my college days, just staying in my dorm room all the time.
• Being emotionally shut-in can be just as harmful as being physically shut-in.

verb to combine two or more things to increase the total

adjective having been combined with something else

• The chef added a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the dish.
• I added some extra cheese to my pizza because I love it cheesy.
• She added some bling to her outfit to make it pop.
• He added insult to injury by laughing at her misfortune.