as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the couple's initial exchange of insults proved to be only a warm-up for their booze-fueled fight later that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
15 June 2026
Queiroz cited a presumption of innocence for Partey, criticized the quick judgments of modern social media and spoke philosophically in comments late Monday ahead of a warm-up game in Wales.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
However, Raúl Rangel has been the starting goalkeeper during Mexico’s past three warm-up matches, playing the full 90 minutes each time.
—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
The longtime athlete wore a light-pink Nike warm-up jacket and tennis dress during the match and received a loud ovation from the crowd at the prestigious London tournament.
—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
Defender Chris Richards returned to the lineup after missing both pre-World Cup warm-up games because of an injury.
—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
15 June 2026
Queiroz cited a presumption of innocence for Partey, criticized the quick judgments of modern social media and spoke philosophically in comments late Monday ahead of a warm-up game in Wales.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
However, Raúl Rangel has been the starting goalkeeper during Mexico’s past three warm-up matches, playing the full 90 minutes each time.
—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
The longtime athlete wore a light-pink Nike warm-up jacket and tennis dress during the match and received a loud ovation from the crowd at the prestigious London tournament.
—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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For the couple, Fan Fest provided the perfect competitive backdrop.
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Beijing broadly denies providing weapons to countries in conflict.
Noun
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The elegant, minimalistic, black-wooden cabinet box containing 12 cigars is but a prelude to this, the mildest cigar sporting the distinctive Davidoff black band.
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This was the second of five group-stage games to be held here, a collective prelude to the July 1 main event (Round of 32).
Verb
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Sullivan, again, supplied a recommendation letter.
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On the sustainability front, Jnane Rumi maintains organic gardens and green spaces (using water-saving systems to be mindful of the desert environment) and supplies the restaurant with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Noun
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The meet continues Thursday, a day consisting largely of women’s preliminaries, followed by men’s finals Friday and women’s finals Saturday.
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Hernandez, now a Southern Section champion again, along with all the other winners will move onto the CIF preliminaries next Saturday to face the rest of the state's top female jumpers, with a chance to get back to the state finals.
Verb
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Her top expenses — more than the cost of landscaping and furnishing — come in the form of city permits.
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Owners can book stays through an app while the company manages furnishing, maintenance, taxes, landscaping, and operations.
Verb
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Each bag is equipped with features that make traveling easier, like comfort grip handles at the top and side, a self-locking retractable handle, back zippered pockets, and stability bars at the bottom to keep the bag from tilting while standing upright.
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Whether your 9-to-5 job involves a rare combination of manual record keeping and precarious wilderness travel, or your idea of outdoor recreation includes journaling your day while remaining at the ready for whatever nature hurls at you, the all-new Pen-metheus equips you for it all.
Verb
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Congress has pledged to better arm Taiwan, giving preliminary approval to a $14 billion arms sales package.
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The decision to end the core pillar of Europe’s largest defense project comes at a time when Western military officials have warned of a growing threat from Russia and the US is stepping up pressure for Europe to re-arm itself.
Verb
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Originally established to support anonymous crime-tip programs, the event has grown to help fund specialized equipment for local law enforcement, provide youth scholarships and educate participants about crime prevention efforts in the community.
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Its job is to educate the public, adopt regulations and investigate, audit and penalize businesses that mishandle personal information.
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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