lead-up

1 of 2

noun

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

lead up

2 of 2

verb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup. Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 But, in the lead-up to Trump’s third run for office, Dans visited Washington as a non-resident fellow at the Heritage Foundation, where his brother, Paul, was leading the effort to draft a blitz of executive actions and policies that became known as Project 2025. Ben Taub, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Verb
The bankruptcy filing also revealed a staggering drop in revenue for the fiber maker, from around $139,000 in 2024 to just under $17,000 in 2025 and essentially no revenue for this year leading up to the filing. Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 12 June 2026 No one else saw another boat coming in the opposite direction that night — not anyone on his boat, nor anyone else in the channel in the moments leading up to the crash. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lead-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead-up was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lead-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead-up. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

lead up

verb
: to make a gradual approach to a topic
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