Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - lead up to

1. The events that led up to a particular event happened one after the other until that event occurred. Alan Tomlinson has reconstructed the events that led up to the deaths... They had a series of arguments, leading up to a decision to separate. PHRASAL VERB: V P P n, V P P n see also lead-up 2. The period of time leading up to an event is the period of time immediately before it happens. ...the weeks leading up to Christmas. PHRASAL VERB: usu cont, V P P n 3. If someone leads up to a particular subject, they gradually guide a conversation to a point where they can introduce it. I’m leading up to something quite important. PHRASAL VERB: V P P n