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

Hard to say if that run-up into earnings took some of the steam away from the good news in this report. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 21 July 2026

The recent run-up in gasoline futures indicates prices will rise another 10 to 25 cents over the next week. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Verb

But left fielder Mauricio Dubón took a step back before running up futilely as Fermin’s ball dropped to the grass. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2026

Capitalism’s rapacious use of the planet has run up a tab to be paid by both future generations and the poor currently living in the Global South. — Literary Hub, 23 July 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