run-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈrən-ˌəp 

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

run up

2 of 2

verb

ran up; run up; running up; runs up

intransitive verb

: to grow rapidly : shoot up

transitive verb

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

Noun

The four-story, brick-faced building was constructed in 1926 as the Hamline Hotel and later renamed the Kimball Hotel, which holds at least a small place in the historical run-up to the civil rights era. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026

Striker Everton Maceio converted it, taking no run-up at all and casually side-footing to the goalkeeper’s right (above) to drag Portuguesa through a shootout against Avai and into the fourth round of the Copa do Brasil. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

His fastball can run up into the mid 90’s but is a weapon because of his ability to command it. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026

So, in all likelihood, that fish had run up the Clark Fork from the depths of Lake Pend Oreille. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for run-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

run up

verb

: to cause to pile up : accumulate

ran up a big telephone bill