well-built

well-built — adjective

1. having a large, solid body with strong muscles that makes someone look physicall

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a large, solid body with strong muscles that makes someone look physically powerful — for example, a farm worker who carries heavy bags of grain every day, or a guard whose job requires a strong appearance.

Example

Sivan has a well-built frame from years of working on a farm.

well-built + from [activity] — origin of physique

The security guard hired by the bank was a well-built man in his early thirties.

collocation: well-built man

Common collocations
  • well-built frame
  • well-built body
  • well-built man
  • well-built shoulders
  • well-built athlete
Synonyms
  • muscular

    Focuses specifically on visible muscles rather than overall body size; a person can be muscular but not large.

  • burly

    Informal; emphasises large, heavy body size with a rough appearance.

  • stocky

    Describes a short, solid, strong body rather than a tall large one.

  • brawny

    Literary; emphasises muscular strength, similar to 'muscular' but more old-fashioned.

Antonyms
  • frail

    Weak and thin, the opposite of large and strong.

  • scrawny

    Informal; unpleasantly thin, lacking muscle.

  • slender

    Gracefully thin; not negative but contrasts with 'large and strong'.

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe men; for women, 'strong' or 'athletic' are more common. This sense describes overall body shape and size rather than just muscle definition.

Common Mistakes

She is very well-built.
She has a strong, athletic build.
'well-built' for women can sound unusual; 'strong' or 'athletic' are more common for female bodies.
He is a well-built person with good grades.
He is a well-built person with a strong physique.
'well-built' describes physical strength, not character or intelligence.

2. made or put together in a strong way so that the object, building, or piece of f

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

made or put together in a strong way so that the object, building, or piece of furniture is not likely to break, fall apart, or get damaged even after many years of use.

Example

The old wooden cabin was so well-built that it stood for over a hundred years.

so well-built that — result clause structure

Ayana bought a well-built desk made of solid oak for her home office.

well-built + [material: solid oak]

Common collocations
  • well-built house
  • well-built furniture
  • well-built bridge
  • well-built table
  • well-built cabinet
Synonyms
  • sturdy

    Suggests something is strong and unlikely to tip over or break; often used for furniture and equipment.

  • durable

    Emphasises the ability to last a long time despite wear, weather, or heavy use.

  • robust

    Suggests strength and resilience, often in a more technical context (machinery, systems).

  • solid

    Implies a feeling of weight and reliability; the object feels firm and well made.

Antonyms
  • flimsy

    Weak and easily broken or damaged; the direct opposite of 'well-built'.

  • rickety

    So poorly made that it shakes or looks like it will collapse.

  • shoddy

    Made with poor materials or careless work; implies low quality.

  • fragile

    Easily broken or damaged; often used for delicate rather than poorly made items.

Usage Note

Commonly used for furniture, buildings, vehicles, tools, and other physical objects. Not used for software, digital products, or abstract concepts — use 'well designed' or 'well made' instead.

Common Mistakes

This software is very well-built.
This software is well designed.
'well-built' describes physical construction, not digital products.
The table is well-built and very expensive.
The table is well-built and should last for decades.
'well-built' implies durability, not just high cost.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All six words describe physical strength, but they emphasise different aspects. 'Well-built' and 'muscular' are the most specific to human bodies: 'well-built' describes a large, solid overall frame, while 'muscular' focuses on visible muscle definition — a marathon runner can be muscular without being well-built. 'Strong' is the broadest term, covering both physical power and many non-physical contexts (strong opinion, strong economy). 'Sturdy' suggests a compact, reliable build that resists being knocked over, often used for both people and objects. 'Solid' similarly implies weight and firmness without necessarily implying large size. 'Robust' adds a sense of health, vigour and resilience — a robust person recovers quickly from illness. For a person who is both large and visibly muscled, describe them as 'a well-built, muscular man'; for someone who is simply hard to push over, 'a sturdy frame' works better.

sturdyrobust ↗solid ↗strong ↗muscular ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • extremely well-built
  • surprisingly well-built
  • solidly well-built

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining the adverb 'well' (from Old English 'wel', meaning 'in a good manner') with the past participle of 'build' (from Old English 'byldan', meaning 'to construct a house'). The compound adjective 'well-built' first appeared in the 16th century describing well-constructed buildings. By the late 1700s, it was extended figuratively to describe people with strong, solid bodies. The person sense now slightly outpaces the object sense in everyday use.