1
: the act of running up something
2
: a usually sudden increase in volume or price
3
: a period immediately preceding an action or event
ran up; run up; running up; runs up
: to grow rapidly : shoot up
1
: bid up
2
: to stitch together quickly
3
: to erect hastily
4
: to achieve by accumulating
ran up a big lead
Examples of run-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
That's far lower than the high prices seen the previous week during an unusual run-up fueled by online chatter.
—Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
On a fourth-and-1, running back Chris Brooks gained four yards on a run up the middle.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run-up
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Noun
During that run-up, the S & P was flat and the XLF SPDR Financials ETF was up half as much as Berkshire Hathaway.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
That's far lower than the high prices seen the previous week during an unusual run-up fueled by online chatter.
—Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
Verb
Another highlight play was an 11-yard run up the middle of the Vikings’ defense after quarterback Drake Maye audibled on third-and-10 for a first down.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
On a fourth-and-1, running back Chris Brooks gained four yards on a run up the middle.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run-up
Cite this Entry
“Run-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run-up. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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