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
Roy and Middleton criticized each other in the lead-up to Tuesday's runoff vote, which was triggered after neither Roy nor Middleton earned more than 50% of the vote during the March 3, 2026 primary. Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 27 May 2026 Audiences had binged Tiger King in 2020, following the lead-up to Joe Exotic’s conviction for hiring someone to kill Carole Baskin, his competitor in the big cat world. Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
Verb
In the months leading up to the murder, Carey, Green and several close friends believed that Fieramusca was also pregnant and due to deliver around the same time as Broussard. Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 The legal proceedings leading up to the settlement suggest a more nuanced situation. Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 29 May 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 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

lead up

verb
: to make a gradual approach to a topic
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