lead-up

1 of 2

noun

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

lead up

2 of 2

verb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But the lead-up to said night—arguably the most important in Hollywood—is a whole thing. Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026 If March 11 is the start of the new league year, the combine is the New Year’s Eve lead-up. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Users can track ticket prices in real time to monitor how costs change leading up to an event, compare seat quality using SeatGeek’s Deal Score feature, and set alerts that notify them when prices drop for specific games or performances. Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026 Her parents, Carolina Velez and Adam Quatrini, remember how perfect everything seemed leading up to the moment their lives changed. Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lead-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead-up was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lead-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead-up. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

lead up

verb
: to make a gradual approach to a topic
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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