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
Pia Singh, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
From the early May low of $160 to the present $205 is a nice run-up.
—John Navin, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Kristin Canning, SELF, 9 Jan. 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen closed out the best season of his career with six consecutive weeks at No. 1 in The Athletic’s QB stock report, maintaining his lead over Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson after his own six-week run up top.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for run-up 
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Noun
The recent weakness has raised alarm bells among some investors , with a few predicting a correction in 2025 given the market’s run-up this year.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
From the early May low of $160 to the present $205 is a nice run-up.
—John Navin, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
The rounded tip of the toy covers plenty of surface area, while the ridges that run up and down the shaft can be angled for more pinpointed pressure.
—Kristin Canning, SELF, 9 Jan. 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen closed out the best season of his career with six consecutive weeks at No. 1 in The Athletic’s QB stock report, maintaining his lead over Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson after his own six-week run up top.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for run-up
Dictionary Entries Near run-up
Cite this Entry
“Run-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run-up. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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