build - develop and grow; "Suspense was building right from the beginning of the opera"

develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"

ramp up, work up, build up, build - bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports"

acquire, develop, produce, grow, get - come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts"

increase - make bigger or more; "The boss finally increased her salary"; "The university increased the number of students it admitted"

work up, build, build up, progress - form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"

work out, elaborate - work out in detail; "elaborate a plan"

make grow, develop - cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development; "The perfect climate here develops the grain"; "He developed a new kind of apple"