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

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

Shares of both Chipotle and Starbucks had big run-ups in the multiweek periods between Niccol’s appointment and actual first day — though those gains aren’t included in these calculations. —Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 July 2025

Verb

The House and Senate have just gone along with Trump running up the deficit again, passing the budget bill with no thought for tomorrow. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 28 July 2025

Stewart played the game’s first 3:27 and appeared to injure her leg running up the court in transition. —Ben Pickman, New York Times, 27 July 2025

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