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

Many cities now experiencing price declines also saw big run-ups in home valuations during the pandemic, such as Austin, Texas. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 1 May 2026

Mario Tama / Getty Images file In a report whose data was largely compiled before the recent run-up, Bank of America analysts found that so far, only lower-income households were seeing a significant impact on their budgets from higher gas prices. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026

Verb

Queens Assistant District Attorney Kevin Timpone said the 16-year-old defendant and the shooter were riding the train when the victim — who recognized the teen from the prior shooting — ran up and started fighting with him. —Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026

Our boy runs up, shoves the other player, and gets the ball. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

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