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)
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
An errant throw during warm-ups before the start of the ninth inning struck him on the left side of the jaw.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Next comes the drier warm-up, which is expected to last at least through Wednesday of next week.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The total workout, including warm-up and cool-down, takes roughly 30-40 minutes and needs to be performed only once or twice per week.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
Another lineup fixture, infielder Luis Arraez, also sat after being struck by an errant warm-up throw late in Saturday’s win against the Rockies.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
An errant throw during warm-ups before the start of the ninth inning struck him on the left side of the jaw.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Next comes the drier warm-up, which is expected to last at least through Wednesday of next week.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The total workout, including warm-up and cool-down, takes roughly 30-40 minutes and needs to be performed only once or twice per week.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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The whole ordeal ended badly — which Powell said was a prelude for what was to come next.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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Stepping into one of Arizona's oldest hotels might feel like time traveling to a different era, following the footsteps of famous figures from the past, or a prelude to encountering a ghost.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Super Bowl Halftime Show typically draws over 100 million viewers, providing unprecedented global exposure for artists and their cultural impact.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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However, many plant protein powders combine different sources to provide all essential amino acids, including leucine.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The sheriff's office preliminary determined that the body belonged to the missing teenager.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The military contractor supplies weapons to Israel and is the maker of the MK-84 bomb, an unguided heavy explosive with a wide blast radius.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
25 Sep. 2025
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In the post-merger structure, CBS Studios’ primary focus remains supplying the CBS broadcast network while still being able to do streaming series for Paramount+ and outside streamers when an opportunity presents itself.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There, surrounding apple orchards and clumps of fallen, rotting fruit furnish the film with a rather literal visual metaphor, to which Etzler returns a bit too often.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
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Management is currently working on finalizing its 2026 to 2028 strategic plan of which creation, production and distribution of high-quality furnishing fabrics and wall coverings remains at the core.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The property is equipped with a heating system and a cooling system.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
23 Sep. 2025
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Nepal gave itself an imperfect constitution—but also a Parliament equipped with the means to perfect it.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 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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One to educate ourselves truly on what this does mean for our state.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
24 Sep. 2025
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Taking the time to educate yourself on colorectal health is vital.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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