RUN-UPS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

run-ups

noun

plural of run-up

as in countdowns

Related Words

Relevance

as in spikes

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for run-ups

Noun

Used to last-minute quick changes, Becker recalls preliminaries from this year’s state pageant.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
But all of that was just the preliminaries for Grady Emerson.

— John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026

Definition of preliminaries

Noun

Trump has alternated between threats and diplomatic overtures to get the job done, but the war is now approaching six months with no end in sight.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
The dispute was overcome only after Sánchez made overtures to Morocco, acknowledging its rule over the territory.

— Kelsey Norman, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of overtures

Noun

Defensively, Bett anchors the interior line, while sophomores Joseph Mbatchou and Jeremiah McCloud look poised for second-year jumps after promising freshman seasons.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
Additionally, using higher-frequency ultraviolet light, scientists are able to create larger energy jumps and measure them more frequently, allowing time tracking in much finer increments, thereby increasing precision.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of jumps

Noun

Summary Solid gold jewelry is experiencing a significant resurgence, driven by independent brands offering personalized, custom pieces that feel like extensions of the wearer.

— Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
The initial contract was three years plus two, meaning there could be two extensions.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of extensions

Noun

Since the series’ end, Stewart has kept busy — and not just by turning his small-screen captain into a big-screen hero with the franchise’s film continuations.

— Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026
Stranger Things’ transformation—from a charming homage to ’80s blockbusters to a sprawling transmedia franchise—was ribbed later in last night’s episode, in a commercial parody imagining a string of continuations.

— Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026

Definition of continuations

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

run upon

run-ups

runway

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Run-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run-ups. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of run-ups

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes