Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

warm-up

noun
\ ˈwȯrm-ˌəp How to pronounce warm-up (audio) \
variants: or less commonly warmup

Definition of warm-up

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the act or an instance of warming up also : a preparatory activity or procedure
2 : a suit for exercise or casual wear consisting of a jacket or sweatshirt and pants —often used in plural

— called also warm-up suit

warm up

verb
warmed up; warming up; warms up

Definition of warm up (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to engage in exercise or practice especially before entering a game or contest broadly : to get ready

First Known Use of warm-up

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about warm-up

Dictionary Entries near warm-up

warmthless

warm to

warm up

warm-up

warmus

warmwater

warm water

Statistics for warm-up

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for warm-up

The first known use of warm-up was in 1846

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for warm-up

warm-up

noun
\ ˈwȯrm-ˌəp\

Kids Definition of warm-up

: the act or an instance of preparing for a performance or a more strenuous activity

warm-up

noun
\ ˈwȯr-ˌməp How to pronounce warm-up (audio) \

Medical Definition of warm-up

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: the act or an instance of warming up also : a procedure (as a set of exercises) used in warming up

warm up

intransitive verb
\ (ˈ)wȯr-ˈməp How to pronounce warm up (audio) \

Medical Definition of warm up (Entry 2 of 2)

: to engage in preliminary exercise (as to stretch the muscles) important to warm up properly before running

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on warm-up

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with warm-up

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for warm-up

Spanish Central: Translation of warm-up

Nglish: Translation of warm-up for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warm-up

Comments on warm-up

What made you want to look up warm-up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

desideratum

Listen to the pronounciation of desideratum

something desired as essential

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

What's that Smell?! Quiz

  • wide eyed dog smelling rose
  • Someone who is hircine smells like a:
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games