WordGarden.iorunup
Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈrəˌnəp/
Meanings
Noun
the period leading up to an important event
a sharp rise in price or value, especially in markets
a running approach before a jump, kick, bowl, or similar action in sport
Beyond the definition
Imagine a sprinter getting ready for a race. They do not just start from a standstill -- they take a runup. A runup is the approach or period of preparation before something bigger happens. It can be literal, like the distance an athlete uses to gain speed before a jump, or figurative. Think about the runup to Christmas: all the shopping, decorating, and planning that happens in the weeks before the big day.
The term often suggests growing energy or momentum. A company might have a long runup to launching a new product, building interest with teasers and marketing. It can also mean a sharp rise, especially in finance; for example, a stock may see a big runup before earnings. It is about the lead-in, the build toward something, or sometimes the rise itself.
The word "runup" describes an approach, a buildup, or a period of preparation leading to a specific event, action, or result. In sports, it often means the approach an athlete takes to gather speed or momentum, such as before a jump, a throw, or a bowl in cricket. In everyday figurative use, it can mean the days, weeks, or months before an important moment, when activity is building toward it.
It is often used for the time before a major event. A political campaign has a runup to election day, filled with rallies, debates, and ads. A holiday season has a runup as excitement and preparation grow. The word usually suggests that things are moving toward a peak or an important next step.
In finance, "runup" also has a more specific meaning: a strong rise in the price or value of something, such as a stock or another asset, often over a fairly short period. If a tech stock had a huge runup last month, its price went up a lot. In aviation, "run-up" can also refer to an engine test done while the aircraft stays in place before takeoff.
Whether you are talking about preparing for a competition, building excitement before a major event, watching a price rise quickly, or checking an aircraft engine before takeoff, "runup" points to a lead-in, a buildup, or an upward move before what comes next.
Examples
- 1
Election
In the runup to the election, both parties increased their advertising.
- Patternin the runup to + event
in the period just before it
- 2
Exams
She barely slept in the runup to her final exams.
- 3
Market prices
Analysts said the recent runup in oil prices could hurt airlines.
- Patterna runup in prices
a quick rise in prices
- 4
Investing
Some investors avoided the stock because its earlier runup seemed too steep.
See also
Similar
- lead-up
- buildup
- preparation
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- aftermath
- follow-up
Used with (collocations)
- in the run-up to
- the run-up to an election
- during the run-up
Explore
- campaign period
- advance planning
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- runupnoun