leading up to
In advance of
Leading up to describes the period or events preceding something significant: In the weeks leading up to the election, polls tightened considerably.
It emphasizes progression toward a climax or important moment rather than just temporal proximity.
The phrase often implies preparation, buildup, or a chain of contributing factors: Everything leading up to the accident suggested it was preventable.
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- waitDelay until later
- heretoforeUntil this point
- precipitatingCausing to occur suddenly
- antecedentSomething that precedes
previous · anticipation · hitherto · foreshadowing · catalyzing · prelude · paving the way · brewing · verge · instigating · eve · brink · run-up · cusp · preceding · countdown · toward · precursor
leading up tofollowing
Coming after another
after · in the wake of · succeeding · coming after · trailing
lead, leader, leading, leadership, mislead, leads, misleading, up to