lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlük-ˈwȯrm How to pronounce lukewarm (audio)
1
: moderately warm : tepid
a lukewarm bath
lukewarm coffee
2
: lacking conviction : half-hearted
gave them only lukewarm support
a lukewarm review
lukewarm applause
lukewarmly adverb
lukewarmness noun

Examples of lukewarm in a Sentence

I hate drinking lukewarm coffee. Our plan got a lukewarm reception. The producer was lukewarm about her script.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the suddenly lukewarm Rockies, who seemed primed to erase the 2024 Sox from the record books, entered Wednesday’s game against Washington with a three-game win streak and a 7-7 record in their last 14 games. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025 Meta has been pouring billions of dollars into AI in recent years, but Zuckerberg has been frustrated with the company’s progress, particularly as the latest version of its flagship Llama AI models received a lukewarm response. Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 18 June 2025 Apply the mask, leave it on for 15 minutes, and rinse with lukewarm water.4 6. Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 16 June 2025 The play, which opened March 23, was consistently high-grossing and well-attended, despite receiving lukewarm reviews and being shut out of the Tony nominations. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lukewarm

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from luke lukewarm + warm; probably akin to Old High German lāo lukewarm — more at lee

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lukewarm was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lukewarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lukewarm. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

lukewarm

adjective
luke·​warm ˈlü-ˈkwȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce lukewarm (audio)
1
: mildly warm : tepid
a lukewarm bath
2
: not enthusiastic : indifferent
our plan got a lukewarm reception
lukewarmly adverb
lukewarmness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lukewarm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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