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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
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
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
The weather service office in New York said pronounced warm-ups are expected Monday with above-normal temperatures through most of the week.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
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
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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His elite pass protection and calm feet mean he can be trusted immediately to keep the quarterback clean on passing downs, while also providing a high-effort presence on special teams.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Campari by Manero opened as a pop-up and serves as a prelude to the restaurant Manero, set to open in 2026.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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After a few months in which it was heard only sporadically at local tournaments across Mexico, a homophobic chant has resurfaced strongly in recent weeks in what could be a prelude to what will happen at the 2026 World Cup.—
Carlos Rodriguez,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Hyundai will supply its HiMSEN engines Data centers are the backbone of modern digital services, from cloud computing to artificial intelligence applications.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 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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Marie Flanigan Interiors furnished this outdoor space with modern oversized seating for a comfortable and inviting feel.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
29 Apr. 2026
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New groups participating this year included the Lifelong Learning Institute from Waubonsie Community College and the SAYv Animal organization as well as Furnish Forward, a not-for-profit that collects furniture and provides it to people who can’t afford to furnish their homes.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But MetroCard and cash payments were unverifiable for the teams, which are equipped with handheld readers that can ascertain whether an OMNY card, bank card or smartphone has recently been used to pay a fare.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
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To make the discovery, NASA Perseverance relied on its SuperCam instrument — a sophisticated system equipped with two lasers and cameras.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Intelligence and tax information may lead investigators at ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations arm to audit a business’s I-9 documents and ultimately raid a job site.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
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Since verification is a very time-consuming and resource-intensive process, several authors have identified alternative ways in which journalists can arm themselves against attacks on their objectivity without having to investigate every last detail of information.—
Florian Wintterlin,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Terracycle, a recycling company with a major distribution center in Aurora, will also be on-site to educate the community about waste diversion and creating a zero-carbon footprint, according to the news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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