build bridges

build bridg·es
US, UK/bɪld ˈbɹɪd͡ʒɪz/

verb

Often followed by between or to: to establish friendly relations or links.

“to build bridges between China and the West”

Opposite
burn one's bridges
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Meanings

verbbuild bridges (third-person singular simple present builds bridges, present participle building bridges, simple past and past participle built bridges)

present singular third person builds bridges · participle present building bridges · participle past built bridges · past built bridges

  1. idiomaticintransitiveOften followed by between or to: to establish friendly relations or links.

    to build bridges between China and the West

    2 more examples

    The Tories appear to have embarked on permanent conflict with the European Union. Instead of building bridges they are burning them.

    2021 November 29, Nicola Sturgeon, “Nicola Sturgeon’s Full Speech to #SNP21 Conference”, in Scottish National Party, archived from the original on 09 May 2022

    On Tuesday, Sheeran issued a statement saying the decision was made by the promoters, not by him. He said he had tried to build bridges between the parties, to no avail. And he said he was "not complicit", arguing that his decision to remain out of the Middle East debate in public wasn't proof he "didn't care".

    2026 September 16, Mark Savage, BBC

    Antonyms: burn one's bridges

Synonyms & antonyms

verbOften followed by between or to: to establish friendly relations or links.

Opposite
burn one's bridges

Translations

Finnish luoda yhteyksiä
  • luoda yhteyksiäto establish friendly relations or links
Polish budować mosty
  • budować mostyto establish friendly relations or links
Spanish acercar posturas, tender un puente
  • acercar posturasto establish friendly relations or links
  • tender un puenteto establish friendly relations or links
  • tender puentesto establish friendly relations or links

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with build bridges

bridges
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

build bridges. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20bridges

MLA

“build bridges.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20bridges. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “build bridges,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/build%20bridges.

Source: build bridges on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.