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)
Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Warm up: Ease into your run with a warm-up to prepare your body and prevent injury.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025
By Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Katherine Love and Hannah Lynn
Starting a fitness fashion business as a teen was just a warm-up for Lukas Kurzmann.
—Katherine Love, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Prior to the Coachella gig, the Go-Go’s played a warm-up show at Los Angeles’ the Roxy this week.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
His workout also includes a warm-up, a free weights circuit, bodyweight challenge, hill sprints, core work and stretching.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Warm up: Ease into your run with a warm-up to prepare your body and prevent injury.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025
By Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Katherine Love and Hannah Lynn
Starting a fitness fashion business as a teen was just a warm-up for Lukas Kurzmann.
—Katherine Love, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Prior to the Coachella gig, the Go-Go’s played a warm-up show at Los Angeles’ the Roxy this week.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Individuals or entities that provide material support to Viv Ansanm or Gran Grif could face criminal charges, loss of immigration benefits or removal from the U.S. Viv Ansanm formed in September 2023 through an alliance between Haiti’s two main gang factions, G-9 and G-Pép.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
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Still, the new findings provide insight on rhythm perception in animals, which is key to understanding the evolution of cognition.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Earlier this month, the administration began targeting the nonprofit status of Harvard University, which could be a prelude to a broader effort to eliminate the tax-exempt status for other nonprofit organizations that the administration has clashed with.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Hegseth may not know that the U.S. suffered twice as many casualties as the Spanish in that long-ago battle, the prelude to a needless and costly war of aggression.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Brembo supplies the braking, and the new 700 boasts adjustable preload, rebound, and compression.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Apr. 2025
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His four-year contract also supplies long-term depth.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Early preliminaries will air on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass starting at 6 p.m. ET.—
Jim Varsallone,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
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Late preliminaries available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. ET.—
Jim Varsallone,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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According to the Washington Post, many government workers have been submitting the same boilerplate reply, over and over, furnishing a preview of the White House’s plan to replace the federal labor pool with digital assistants.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
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Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the group has successfully coordinated production quotas among its own members and the ten other countries that form OPEC+ to stabilize and sustain high oil prices, furnishing its members more than a trillion dollars in gross revenue.—
Ngaire Woods,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The test facility is equipped with a dozen jet fans, each almost as tall as the workers who run them and powerful enough to simulate a Category 5 hurricane.—
Amal Elawady,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
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The lounge is very large, equipped with ample seating, a fresh food buffet, and a self-serve bar.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Learn more about some recent discoveries: Venomous creature — armed with neurotoxin — found in Oman for first time.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
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Once again taking a deft low-key approach to a sturdy script (this time by Sean Farley), and armed with engaging lead performances from Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Skiles has crafted another accessibly offbeat not-quite-genre item.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Applications open today for the three month in-person program that will include six development sessions to educate and create access and community for up to 20 mentees across creative and management tracks.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
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The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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