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 historic price run-up just ahead of the chocolate industry’s biggest day of the year has been months in the making. —Maya Huter, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025

Perhaps a more communicative run-up on expectations or an approach that features more competitive offers to kick off the negotiations could go a long way to keeping the conversations more positive and less combative. —Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025

Verb

Tickets start at $22 for a toddler session and run up to $45 for an adult-only session. —Megan Stringer, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025

My trophy ran up a total score of 25 5/16 points, compared with 25 6/17 [sic] points for the winner. —Tom Stacer, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 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