lead-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈlēd-ˌəp 

: something that leads up to or prepares the way for something else

lead up

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

led up; leading up; leads up

intransitive verb

1

: to prepare the way

2

: to make a gradual or indirect approach to a topic

Examples of lead-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

McGregor dismantled Aldo during the pre-fight lead-up and subsequently embarrassed him in 13 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire beginning May 28 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed by video interviews and more content from the event. —Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 7 May 2025

Verb

In that letter, Lively also accused Baldoni of creating a smear campaign leading up to the film’s release last August. —Matt Minton, Variety, 4 May 2025

Inside, nine immersive galleries guide visitors through Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage, the grandeur of Titanic’s interiors, and the events leading up to the disaster, as well as the legacy that followed. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lead-up

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

Kids Definition

lead up

verb

(ˈ)lēd-ˈəp 

: to make a gradual approach to a topic