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

Adviser: Marc Andreessen In run-up to the election, the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz was one of the Valley’s most prominent Trump supporters. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2024

Yields on the 10-year bond fell back to 4.5% after nearly hitting 4.6% on Thursday, following a run-up driven by the Fed's pullback on rate cuts. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

The song has run up its record 19 weeks at No. 1 dating to the chart’s start via one frame this holiday season, five each over the 2023 and 2022 holidays and four in both the 2021 and 2020 seasons. —Gary Trust, Billboard, 30 Dec. 2024

The gunman ran up to the driver’s side of Wolf's car and tried to get inside her vehicle. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

run up

verb

: to cause to pile up : accumulate

ran up a big telephone bill