lead-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈlēd-ˌəp 

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

lead up

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

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

Noun

Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the lead-up to the encounter, which shows Bonner and two male friends walk past a third man who had been standing on the sidewalk. — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

That costs additional money—both London teams this past week set up headquarters for fans, with current and former players participating in events throughout the lead-up to the game—and also provides some additional income. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

Accessibility There are ramps leading up to the lobby and most communal areas, while an elevator makes every level accessible without the need for stairs. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

In the days leading up to the Arcadia police search of the home, Xuan and several of the nannies stripped clothes off some of the children and inspected their naked bodies for signs of abuse, according to the criminal complaint. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lead-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

lead up

verb

(ˈ)lēd-ˈəp 

: to make a gradual approach to a topic