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

See Examples For:

run up

The series of switchbacks with hairpin turns offer a satisfying run up to Pine Mountain Summit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Remember the Tour cyclist who abandoned his bicycle and decided to run up the mountain instead, clackety-clacking over hot asphalt in his plastic shoes?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The France captain stuttered in his run up, looked up at goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and saw his tame penalty easily saved.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

The stock was also headed for a fifth straight gain, after it had already run up 17.1% over the past four sessions.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

I could always run up into the fields and save myself, but the point was to try to get the wagon home so we could earn our livelihood through the winter.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Related Words

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