ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lead up to

idiom
Meaning

To set in motion; to act as a causal or preparatory event or sequence of events.


Examples
SIMPLE

These small tasks lead up to the final project.

CONTEXTUAL

The long arguments in the meeting led up to his sudden decision to quit the team.

COMPLEX

The series of minor diplomatic disagreements led up to the formal declaration of war between the two neighboring nations.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all roads lead to Rome

    Different paths can take one to the same goal.

  2. 02

    get the lead out

    To go faster; to hurry up.

  3. 03

    lead by the nose

    To cause to follow blindly.

  4. 04

    lead foot

    A habit of driving fast.

  5. 05

    lead nowhere

    to have no purpose, to result in nothing.

  6. 06

    lead on

    To mislead, to try to make someone believe a lie.

  7. 07

    lead someone to the altar

    To get married to someone.

  8. 08

    lead someone up the garden path

    To deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.

Last updated April 17, 2026