1
a
: having or giving out heat to a moderate or adequate degree
warm weather
a warm fire
b
: serving to maintain or preserve heat especially to a satisfactory degree
a warm sweater
c
: feeling or causing sensations of heat brought about by strenuous exertion
2
: comfortably established : secure
3
a
: marked by strong feeling : ardent
b
: marked by excitement, disagreement, or anger
the argument grew warm
4
: marked by or readily showing affection, gratitude, cordiality, or sympathy
a warm welcome
warm regards
5
: emphasizing or exploiting sexual imagery or incidents
6
: accompanied or marked by extreme danger or duress
7
: newly made : fresh
a warm scent
8
: having the color or tone of something that imparts heat
specifically
: of a hue in the range yellow through orange to red
9
: near to a goal, object, or solution sought
not there yet but getting warm
warmed; warming; warms
1
: to make warm
2
a
: to infuse with a feeling of love, friendship, well-being, or pleasure
b
: to fill with anger, zeal, or passion
3
: to reheat (cooked food) for eating
—often used with over
4
: to make ready for operation or performance by preliminary exercise or operation
—often used with up
1
: to become warm
2
a
: to become ardent, interested, or receptive
—usually used with to or toward
warmed to the idea
b
: to become filled with affection or love
—used with to or toward
3
: to experience feelings of pleasure : bask
4
: to become ready for operation or performance by preliminary activity
—often used with up
Synonyms
Examples of warm in a Sentence
Adjective
Be sure to keep warm when you go outside.
We sat by the fire to stay warm.
It's too warm in here. We should open a window.
The sunshine was warm on my face.
We were met with a warm welcome.
She has a warm and friendly nature.
The letter was signed, “warmest regards.”
She gave us each a long, warm hug.
Keep going; you're getting warm.
Verb
He warmed his hands in front of the fire.
We warmed ourselves by the fire.
Air rises when it warms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
Add tomatoes and sauté about 1 minute until warm.
3.
—Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
Stop wasting time wondering what to wear in the morning, and head to Amazon to grab this easy warm weather uniform just in time for spring.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, at the flat center of the region, valley floor fruit is the recipient of generous sunlight and a steady cycle of morning fog and cool breezes from San Pablo Bay and constant flow of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Temperatures trend warmer again as well, with highs back into the 70s under partly sunny skies.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Although unusual, if temperatures reach 90 degrees on Sunday, this won’t be the earliest that the metro area has seen temperatures that warm.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, the experience at an indie shop is a warm and welcoming experience that cannot be replicated.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
As if that weren’t enough, there could also be record warm temperatures.
—Allison Chinchar, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Lauren Fischer, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
But today, the climate is warming faster, and the population is larger, than at any point in history.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
But warming temperatures could send many meteorites out of sight.
—Katherine Kornei, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Good realized the species had been unwittingly mating with each other, and the culprit behind the genetic mix-up was Vermont’s warming winters and springs.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Since 1970, allergy season has grown longer due to a warming climate.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Some think Sixth Street will take advantage of a warming IPO market and list shares soon.
—Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Sunny skies and warming temperatures will return heading into the following weekend, as highs will reach the mid-50s.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
My entire body warmed at the contact, and fear clawed up my throat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Dallas News, 7 Oct. 2022
The kitchen has warm-toned wood cabinets, an island with storage and countertop space and a stove with a stone surround.
—Dallas News, 5 Aug. 2022
The couple wrapped up warm in scarves and long wool coats for the outdoor visit in the 32-degree weather, which felt even colder along the water.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2022
Fortunately, Elizabeth of the College Housewife struck the perfect balance by breaking up her warm-toned table with white planters and matte black candlestick holders.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 14 Nov. 2022
They're lined with soft, brushed sherpa-like acrylic yarn that traps heat to keep your feet toasty warm all winter long and impressed our analysts in Lab evaluations.
—Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping, 28 Oct. 2022
On Instagram, Lipa shared photos of herself frolicking through the streets of Portugal this week while wearing a warm-toned minidress, patterned with palm trees and sandy beaches.
—Melody Leibner, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 June 2022
Antonoff fooled around with some simple keyboard voicings on a warm-sounding vintage synth, then programmed a spare, mid-tempo track on a drum machine.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
The family’s custom apparel shop, which Renee ran, printed the team’s warm-up gear.
—Karin Brulliard and Adria Malcolm, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Apr. 2022
Adjective
Get The Recipe 14 of 50 Garden Pleasures Cocktail
Mixologist Tiffanie Barriere developed the ultimate porch sipper for warm spring and summer days.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
Add tomatoes and sauté about 1 minute until warm.
3.
—Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
Stop wasting time wondering what to wear in the morning, and head to Amazon to grab this easy warm weather uniform just in time for spring.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, at the flat center of the region, valley floor fruit is the recipient of generous sunlight and a steady cycle of morning fog and cool breezes from San Pablo Bay and constant flow of warmer air from San Joaquin Valley to the east.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
Temperatures trend warmer again as well, with highs back into the 70s under partly sunny skies.
—Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Although unusual, if temperatures reach 90 degrees on Sunday, this won’t be the earliest that the metro area has seen temperatures that warm.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, the experience at an indie shop is a warm and welcoming experience that cannot be replicated.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
As if that weren’t enough, there could also be record warm temperatures.
—Allison Chinchar, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
If your indoor and outdoor space consists of wood, tile, or other hard flooring, warm it up with an area rug.
—Lauren Fischer, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024
But today, the climate is warming faster, and the population is larger, than at any point in history.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
But warming temperatures could send many meteorites out of sight.
—Katherine Kornei, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Good realized the species had been unwittingly mating with each other, and the culprit behind the genetic mix-up was Vermont’s warming winters and springs.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Since 1970, allergy season has grown longer due to a warming climate.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Some think Sixth Street will take advantage of a warming IPO market and list shares soon.
—Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Sunny skies and warming temperatures will return heading into the following weekend, as highs will reach the mid-50s.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
My entire body warmed at the contact, and fear clawed up my throat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Adverb
The primary suite has access to a patio, and the walls in the primary bedroom are brick or have warm-toned wood paneling.
—Dallas News, 7 Oct. 2022
The kitchen has warm-toned wood cabinets, an island with storage and countertop space and a stove with a stone surround.
—Dallas News, 5 Aug. 2022
The couple wrapped up warm in scarves and long wool coats for the outdoor visit in the 32-degree weather, which felt even colder along the water.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2022
Fortunately, Elizabeth of the College Housewife struck the perfect balance by breaking up her warm-toned table with white planters and matte black candlestick holders.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 14 Nov. 2022
They're lined with soft, brushed sherpa-like acrylic yarn that traps heat to keep your feet toasty warm all winter long and impressed our analysts in Lab evaluations.
—Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping, 28 Oct. 2022
On Instagram, Lipa shared photos of herself frolicking through the streets of Portugal this week while wearing a warm-toned minidress, patterned with palm trees and sandy beaches.
—Melody Leibner, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 June 2022
Antonoff fooled around with some simple keyboard voicings on a warm-sounding vintage synth, then programmed a spare, mid-tempo track on a drum machine.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
The family’s custom apparel shop, which Renee ran, printed the team’s warm-up gear.
—Karin Brulliard and Adria Malcolm, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Apr. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'warm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English wearm; akin to Old High German warm warm and probably to Lithuanian virti to cook, boil
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of warm was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing warm
Dictionary Entries Near warm
Cite this Entry
“Warm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
warm
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: having or giving off heat to a moderate or adequate degree
warm food
a warm stove
b
: serving to keep in heat (as of the body)
warm clothes
c
: feeling or causing sensations of heat
warm from exertion
a long warm walk
2
a
: showing or marked by strong feeling : ardent
a warm hug
b
: marked by tense excitement or anger
a warm political campaign
3
: marked by or tending toward injury, distress, or pain
gave the enemy a warm reception
4
a
: newly made : fresh
a warm scent
b
: near to a goal, answer, or object sought
not there yet but getting warm
5
: of a color in the range yellow to orange to red
warmly
adverb
warmness
noun
warm
2 of 2 verb1
: to make or become warm
warm yourself in front of the fire
2
a
: to give a feeling of warmth or pleasure to
it warms my heart to see you
b
: to experience feelings of affection or pleasure
warmed to her young guests
3
: to reheat for eating
warm over some potatoes
4
a
: to make or become ready for action or performing by doing special exercises or actions beforehand
swimmers warm up before a race
b
: to become increasingly interested or enthusiastic
a speaker warming to his topic
More from Merriam-Webster on warm
Nglish: Translation of warm for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of warm for Arabic Speakers
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