run up
Britishverb
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to amass or accumulate; incur
to run up debts
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to make by sewing together quickly
to run up a dress
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to hoist
to run up a flag
noun
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an approach run by an athlete for a long jump, pole vault, etc
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a preliminary or preparatory period
the run-up to the election
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Make or become greater or larger, as in That offer will run up the price of the stock . [Late 1500s]
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Accumulate, as in She ran up huge bills at the florist . [First half of 1700s]
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Sew rapidly, as in I can run up some new curtains for the kitchen . [Mid-1800s]
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Raise a flag, as in Let's run up the flag in time for the holiday . This usage, originating in the navy about 1900, gave rise to the slangy phrase, Let's run it up the flagpole and see if anybody salutes , meaning, “Let's try this out.” The latter originated about 1960 as advertising jargon.
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.
Micron stock could continue its recent momentum in the run up to its earnings on Sept. 30.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
Lyrics and quotations run up the steps towards the stadium.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
The greenback’s small recovery wasn’t enough to take steam out of the sharp run up in cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin holding above $80,000 in European trade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The LA28 hospitality packages start at $400 and run up to $15,000 per person, sometimes more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Sneaky’s off visiting his grandparents for a few days, so I can’t run up to his place.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
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.
