lead up to
Britishverb
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to act as a preliminary or introduction to
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to approach (a topic) gradually or cautiously
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The lead up to the World Cup was no different, but the doom and gloom went away once the action began.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
As well as Trump's appearance, the other big talking point in the lead up to the final was the Super Bowl-style half-time show.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
“We are hopeful that momentum will build over the next few weeks in the lead up to the games,” Posner said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
U.S. forces often set up temporary operational sites in the lead up to military operations, security experts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
The huge stone columns lining the road that lead up to the hotel look like they belong in a fairy-tale palace.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
