limber up
phrasal verb
limbered up; limbering up; limbers up
: to prepare for physical activity by doing exercises so that one's body can move and bend more easily
She limbered up for a few minutes before starting to run.
—sometimes used figurativelyShe limbered up for the election by learning the relevant statistics.
Examples of limber up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Defender Bobby Thomas then limbers up to play the long pass over the top, but Sunderland’s back four is alert to the runs in-behind and sweeps up the eventual ball.
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Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Next to me line cooks, sous-chefs, and other assorted restaurant workers clad in athleisure are limbering up in the middle of a narrow street in downtown Manhattan, the skyscrapers casting us into shadow in the sunny weather.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
Every once in a while, especially if a tough lefthander is the next opponent, Juarez will suit up, limber up the arm and deliver that championship stuff in live batting practice.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Skipping can also help limber up your hips by taking them through a bigger range of motion than is typical while running, Wickham added.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
Sports fans in the UK can technically start their Sunday with some NBA at a time when only Santa’s hard-working elves should be awake, limbering up for the marathon ahead.
—Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
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Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Next to me line cooks, sous-chefs, and other assorted restaurant workers clad in athleisure are limbering up in the middle of a narrow street in downtown Manhattan, the skyscrapers casting us into shadow in the sunny weather.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
Every once in a while, especially if a tough lefthander is the next opponent, Juarez will suit up, limber up the arm and deliver that championship stuff in live batting practice.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Skipping can also help limber up your hips by taking them through a bigger range of motion than is typical while running, Wickham added.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
Sports fans in the UK can technically start their Sunday with some NBA at a time when only Santa’s hard-working elves should be awake, limbering up for the marathon ahead.
—Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Limber up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limber%20up. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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