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

For Google, Anthropic's bet on TPUs is exactly the kind of validation investors have been rewarding, as Wall Street increasingly ties Alphabet's stock run-up to clear demand for its in-house AI chips. —Kif Leswing,mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025

That is far below the spikes in inflation three years ago but still painful for many households after the big run-up since 2020. —Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025

Verb

In the video, a man believed to be the owner of the car was seen frantically running up and yelling at the driver to stop because his 4-year-old daughter was inside, according to the arrest report from the Sunrise Police Department. —Bri Buckley, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Punter Dylan Mauro took the snap and ran up the middle, but ended a yard short. —Mark Billingsley, Sacbee.com, 14 Dec. 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