lead up to
Britishverb
-
to act as a preliminary or introduction to
-
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.
“Keeping Up With the Kardashians” fans will immediately recognize the six-bedroom property’s dramatic black-and-white entryway, which features two grand staircases that lead up to the second floor.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
He explained they spoke to each other in the lead up to Monday's match, but not about football.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Sitting on the steps that lead up to our house and looking at our lake.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
“This comes at an interesting time, as we lead up to a major week of central bank meetings.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Light is spilling in from the stairs that eventually lead up to the devastated world above them.
From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
