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

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

Having the brilliant Tom Brooke next to me was like walking around with a wooden door that I constantly tried to run up, like that guy in “Singin’ in the Rain.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

“The markets have run up so much. Oil needs to come down.” said José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

I shake my head and run up the steps, Juju tells the dreadlocked brother to turn up the music and leave me alone.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Related Words

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