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)
Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
End your warm-up session with a light jog.
—J'ne Day-Lucore, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Before venturing to the water to scream, Chris led the group in a breathing warm-up, with meditative music playing from a speaker.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
After a few warm-up throws, Tua Tagovailoa flexed his left hand.
—Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
End your warm-up session with a light jog.
—J'ne Day-Lucore, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Before venturing to the water to scream, Chris led the group in a breathing warm-up, with meditative music playing from a speaker.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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The new name could be a prelude to larger changes, either with the physical Apple TV device, or for Apple TV+.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
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While preseason results aren't important, the performance of players is perhaps a prelude to the regular season.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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L3Harris revealed that the communications suite will provide interoperability with the United States, NATO and coalition partners, creating a networked battlespace with fifth-generation aircraft and beyond.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
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Emirates confirmed to Reuters that its plane was leased from and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish carrier that provides extra cargo capacity to major airlines.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
20 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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TechCrunch reports that Also already has a deal in place to supply one of the quads, which features a large cargo compartment, to Amazon.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
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Teams are placed into CIF Southern Section girls volleyball playoff divisions according to their rating supplied by Massey Ratings System.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The team, after all, is 13-1-3 at home this season — and throughout its four-season tenure has a remarkable home record furnished by one of the most beautifully boisterous fanbases in all of MLS.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Oct. 2025
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Wahlberg and his wife, Rhea Durham, purchased the estate fully furnished, a decision that enables them to settle in seamlessly ahead of the Palm Beach social season getting into full swing.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Increment 4 program, which aims to equip smaller, faster vehicles with scalable turrets capable of tackling a range of threats.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
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The airline already started equipping its regional jets with faster internet equipment, and the overhaul of its mainline fleet continues.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gripen fighters have the reputation of being relatively cheap and easy to maintain and arm, and able to operate in austere conditions – using roads or even dirt roads for runways.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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The participants were also generally well-educated and came from multiple study sites.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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