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 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

Indeed, some analysts previously told ABC News the current selloff owes primarily to a phenomenon called profit-taking, when traders sell off some of their shares to lock in returns after a prolonged run-up in price. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Verb

The couple sprang into action, woke up their sleeping baby, fled their room and ran up the stairs to a deck to try to get on a lifeboat. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

The 2017 Open Championship, which Spieth won despite — perhaps because of — a 22-minute ordeal of confusion, patience and a whole lot of running up and down a steep hill of thick, shrubby dune grass. — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 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