run up

British  

verb

1. to amass or accumulate; incur

   to run up debts

2. to make by sewing together quickly

   to run up a dress

3. to hoist

   to run up a flag

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noun

1. an approach run by an athlete for a long jump, pole vault, etc

2. a preliminary or preparatory period

   the run-up to the election

run up Idioms  

1. Make or become greater or larger, as in That offer will run up the price of the stock . [Late 1500s]

2. Accumulate, as in She ran up huge bills at the florist . [First half of 1700s]

3. Sew rapidly, as in I can run up some new curtains for the kitchen . [Mid-1800s]

4. 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.

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Example Sentences

Take, for example, Suzuka, where the run up the hill from Spoon Curve through 130R is followed by a chicane and then another long straight down to Turn One.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

Roku’s stock has run up 32.4% in 2026 through Friday, while Fox shares have lost 9.9%.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

The firm sees risks to space-related stocks that have run up into the IPO.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

The records show this early evacuation was run up the chain of command, meaning officials handling the emergency should have been aware of it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Noson had run up to Malone’s office for a single magnitude 4 earthquake.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• assemble
• construct
• create
• found
• hoist
• initiate
• mount
• organize
• put up
• raise
• set up
• stand