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)
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
As the pre-match warm-up came to an end, Elliot Anderson ballooned a shot into the stands in what should have been his final turn within a shooting exercise.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Drink 8 ounces of water 20 to 30 minutes before exercising or during your warm-up.
—Rebecca Valdez, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
On Friday, a warm-up that is expected to have the warmest places hit 80 degrees is supposed settle in and last at least through the weekend.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
Eventually the in-studio warm-up comic, Don Barris, a jovial pro with a Taftian mustache, led a few applause drills.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
As the pre-match warm-up came to an end, Elliot Anderson ballooned a shot into the stands in what should have been his final turn within a shooting exercise.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Drink 8 ounces of water 20 to 30 minutes before exercising or during your warm-up.
—Rebecca Valdez, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025
On Friday, a warm-up that is expected to have the warmest places hit 80 degrees is supposed settle in and last at least through the weekend.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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The Venezuelan regime has condemned the deployment as an act of coercion and a potential prelude to intervention.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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What wasn’t revealed at the time, however, was how this was a prelude to the Netflix special early next year.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Arrington provided several recommendations on how to acquire such a replica.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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The governor vetoed a bill on Saturday that would have provided more transparency around the water usage of data centers, which regularly require millions of gallons of fresh water to cool their computers.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In 1988: Greg Louganis won the gold medal in the 3-meter springboard at the Seoul Olympics one day after hitting his head on the diving board during the preliminaries.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Galvin’s spokesperson said the issue was not related with the city’s administration of the preliminary.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Called the CascadeAdvanced Energy Facility, the project will help reduce Amazon’s carbon emissions, power its operations with clean energy, and supply carbon-free electricity to the grid.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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Asian Pacific Fibers x Blocktexx Indonesian polyester filament yarn manufacturer Asian Pacific Fibers has partnered with textile recycling technology company BlockTexx to develop and supply T2T rPET products.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The homes come furnished with table, stove, refrigerator, pots, dishes, linens, a television and microwave.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Winner may be required to furnish proof of identity, address, and age to receive a prize.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That's merit, allocating social roles to those well equipped to perform them.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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American laws aren’t equipped to deal with the fast-moving ambitions of CEO Elon Musk, and Washington doesn’t seem in a hurry to regulate his company.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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We’d be traveling to a bunker near another unit, Team B, which would assemble suicide drones and arm them with explosives.—
Ken Harbaugh,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
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Topline Shares of gun manufacturers spiked immediately following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a college campus Wednesday, a market trend that typically happens after high-profile shootings as people tend to arm themselves and fear possible restrictions on gun sales.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tedesco learned about Reparation Generation last year through a church group and further got involved by hosting home meetings this year to educate others about the organization's work.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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