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

All this disruption is coming in the lead-up to the Burning Man festival, which brings at its peak about 70,000 people to this region from all over the world. — Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026

The lead-up to that decision was fraught and not taken lightly. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Executive orders to limit mail-in ballots, lawsuits over voter registration data, threats to funding and more have poured out of the White House leading up to the 2026 general election. — Denver Post, 23 Aug. 2026

In the hour leading up to the Dutch GP, rain soaked the circuit, including during the reconnaissance laps, when the cars navigated from the garage to the grid pre-race. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 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