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
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
The shares dipped 3% in late trading after the numbers and following a recent run-up.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Come in, make yourself at home, score a few late goals to run up the score.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for run-up
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Noun
The special menu will arrive in run-up to the theatrical release of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, out on Dec. 19.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
The shares dipped 3% in late trading after the numbers and following a recent run-up.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Suddenly, one of them runs up and presses a button to flip the camera, which then begins to record the strangers.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Come in, make yourself at home, score a few late goals to run up the score.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Nov. 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 24 Nov. 2025.
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