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

Sinner’s lead-up has been impeccable—save for what seems to be a minor tweak to the elbow of his left arm. —Corey Seymour, Vogue, 11 July 2025

Court docs describe lead-up to death Betker Jr. suffered 10 gunshot wounds, including to his face, according to a presentencing summary from the Maricopa County Superior Court’s Probation Department. —Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025

Verb

Tennessee has scheduled several events throughout 2025 and 2026 leading up to the semiquincentennial. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025

California has seen a spate of accidental fireworks explosions leading up to the Fourth of July, with a Thursday morning detonation killing one person in a Simi Valley home and a similar incident critically injuring two people in a Bay Area residence. —Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

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