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

Paramount, during the lead-up to the deal, hosted Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner, and Ellison also paid a visit to his compound in Mar-a-Lago. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the lead-up to the encounter, which shows Bonner and two male friends walk past a third man who had been standing on the sidewalk. — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

In the days leading up to Sunday’s flight, Blair had been documenting a stretch of near-constant travel. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Jurors have heard testimony from witnesses and fire investigators, along with other evidence, including video showing events leading up to the fire. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 13 Oct. 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