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
Steve Kopack, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, most industry groups have canceled their Grammy-week parties, making for a quieter run-up to this year’s event.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Danielle Jennings, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Viewers were able to see the dog running up a residential street as his owner chased behind him, filming the hilarious scene.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for run-up 
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Noun
After a pandemic-era run-up in prices that devastated many consumers’ finances, inflation has been curtailed dramatically.
—Steve Kopack, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, most industry groups have canceled their Grammy-week parties, making for a quieter run-up to this year’s event.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
Before an October 2024 Chiefs game, the duo showcased their friendship when Brittany exuberantly ran up to the pop star and nearly leapt into her arms, a clip from the pre-game scene shows.
—Danielle Jennings, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Viewers were able to see the dog running up a residential street as his owner chased behind him, filming the hilarious scene.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 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 11 Feb. 2025.
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