lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlük-ˈwȯrm 

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

Synonyms

• warm
• warmed
• heated
• tepid
• boiling

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

Allow the oatmeal to cool to a lukewarm temperature before eating. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2025

Place three cups of lukewarm or room temp water into your pot. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025

However, aboard the ISS, for example, the food seems less like some futuristic lab experiment and more like a succession of box lunches washed down with lukewarm coffee. —David Szondy october 19, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025

The lukewarm homecoming turns worse after finding out about a new spell that can turn humans to witches, which threatens her family’s top-dog standing. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for lukewarm

• chloroform
• coliform
• cribriform
• cruciform
• filiform
• fusiform
• isoform
• microform
• multiform
• multiforme
• outperform
• piriform

Kids Definition

lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlü-ˈkwȯ(ə)rm 

1

: mildly warm : tepid

a lukewarm bath

2

: not enthusiastic : indifferent

our plan got a lukewarm reception

lukewarmly adverb

lukewarmness noun