as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
the couple's initial exchange of insults proved to be only a warm-up for their booze-fueled fight later that night
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Javier went to the mound to warm up for the bottom of the second at Coors Field, threw a warm-up pitch and signaled to the Astros’ dugout for someone to visit the mound.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the docs front, Netflix is continuing its pre-World Cup warm-up with another profile piece about a star player, this time the Argentina team’s iconic goalkeeper.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
All have been personally worn by Curry during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
Destinations like Greater Fort Lauderdale, long a draw for those seeking a winter warm-up, illustrate how conflicted many once-frequent Florida visitors feel about visiting now — and what a decline in visits means for local businesses.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Javier went to the mound to warm up for the bottom of the second at Coors Field, threw a warm-up pitch and signaled to the Astros’ dugout for someone to visit the mound.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
On the docs front, Netflix is continuing its pre-World Cup warm-up with another profile piece about a star player, this time the Argentina team’s iconic goalkeeper.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
All have been personally worn by Curry during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Mount Carmel pitcher Jake Matise received a piece of information Friday morning that provided him with some extra focus and motivation to take into his start later in the afternoon.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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Inter Miami provides the best challenge and litmus test yet.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The vast No Kings demonstrations should be considered a prelude to targeting enough Republican Senate incumbents and open races to flip the Senate this fall, and pressuring Republicans up for reelection in 2028 to do their constitutional duty.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
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Some staff fear this could be a prelude to job cuts.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In July of 2024, as fighting raged in Khartoum, a Sudanese weapons broker WhatsApped Mafi to contract a shipment of Qods Mohajer-6 drones — the same ones Iran has long supplied Russia in its war in Ukraine, according to the complaint.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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For decades, Indian Point operated 24/7 and supplied roughly 2,000 megawatts of carbon-free electricity around the clock — through heat waves, blizzards, and everything in between.—
Nicole Malliotakis,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Tickets to the mixed archery preliminary set me back $110 each, then $85 each for the mixed equestrian preliminary.—
Personal Finance Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
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The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.—
Jacob Rousseau,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With its home-furnishing heritage, focus on low prices, and the help of artist Marcelis, Ikea has made a genuinely delightful smart lamp that’s not only beautiful but also affordable and practical.—
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy,
The Verge,
15 Apr. 2026
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The retail juggernaut sold modern kit homes, the financing to purchase them, the tools to repair them and the wares to furnish them.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The most practical innovation that Lightning brought to the race was joints equipped with a liquid-cooling system adapted from Honor’s smartphones.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Shift toward combat-ready autonomy Comet is equipped with an advanced autonomy system that supports navigation, remote control, and scalable command structures.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, the women held there stole as many as eight rifles from guards to arm the revolt.—
Chad S.A. Gibbs,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
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The person opened the door armed with a sword and stabbed a Boston Police officer in the arm and knocked the clinician to the ground, according to police.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The enforcement effort also included educating business owners on how to spot a skimmer.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Hengemuhle said that, as human beings, there is a responsibility to do everything possible to combat hate, which requires understanding and educating one another, as well as drawing on different policing and professional backgrounds.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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