lead-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈlēd-ˌəp 

: something that leads up to or prepares the way for something else

lead up

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

led up; leading up; leads up

intransitive verb

1

: to prepare the way

2

: to make a gradual or indirect approach to a topic

Examples of lead-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In my view, this mirrors the lead-up to the 2000 market correction. — Jordan Zamir, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Vance has been staking out his own pathway lately in what many political observers estimate is a lead-up to a 2028 presidential bid. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Verb

In January, Clancy and her husband filed separate lawsuits against the medical providers who oversaw Lindsay’s mental health treatment in the months leading up to the killings. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

In its reporting, Curbed attributed many of those conditions to what contractors described as a compressed timeline leading up to the museum’s opening. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lead-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

lead up

verb

(ˈ)lēd-ˈəp 

: to make a gradual approach to a topic