Snare rolls that speed up, white-noise risers, filters opening and pitch rising all signal that something is coming. Build-ups usually last 8 or 16 bars in dance music.
Outside electronic music, film and trailer composers use orchestral crescendos and ostinatos for the same effect.
Using it in a prompt
Give a length ("16-bar build-up") or a time ("build from 0:30 to 0:45") when the peak needs to land on a specific shot.