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)
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Other parades happening this weekend include a warm-up parade in the Brookside neighborhood on Saturday and Martin City’s parade on Sunday before Kansas City hosts its parade on the holiday.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Dynamic warm-ups also help prepare the body for the impact of running.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
Start runs with a walking warm-up and stretch afterward.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
As the West bakes, folks in the eastern United States will have to wait a while for a sustained warm-up, forecasters said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Other parades happening this weekend include a warm-up parade in the Brookside neighborhood on Saturday and Martin City’s parade on Sunday before Kansas City hosts its parade on the holiday.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Dynamic warm-ups also help prepare the body for the impact of running.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
Start runs with a walking warm-up and stretch afterward.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Its creator, Mark Hodges, received the same message as Aaron, even though Eyes Up did not provide agents’ real-time locations.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Chappell, who was appointed to the bench in 2013 by President Barack Obama, questioned the timing of the evidence and testimony provided by government officials.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As a prelude to a lunar landing, the flight was an important step in testing the flight trajectory and operations before astronauts stepped foot on the moon's surface.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Like the last time the Pioneers won the Frozen Faceoff in 2024, when DU went on to capture its record 10th national title, the victory could be a prelude to something much greater.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While there is already scrambling in the diesel market, and diesel prices have reacted even more violently as compared to crude and even gasoline to the upside, the market is still relatively well supplied for the short-term.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2026
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Desalination, the process of creating drinkable water from seawater, is critical to supplying water across Israel and many of Iran’s Gulf neighbors.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The discourse that Aram specifically investigates is of the kind that Said critiques for furnishing the West with authority over the East, an instrument of cultural and geopolitical domination.—
Julian Stern,
Artforum,
24 Mar. 2026
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There’s also a central courtyard furnished with a fireplace that’s best enjoyed with a glass of merlot of Cabernac Franc in hand from Sunstone Winery.—
Kristin Braswell,
Architectural Digest,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yes Through the medium of her extra income, the working wife can equip her house with all modern conveniences and engage capable, trustworthy servants who can adequately take care of her home and family.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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As for grunt, the Zeelander 8 can be equipped with up to four Volvo Penta IPS-1350 engines that afford a top speed of 40 knots, a cruising speed of 32 knots, and a range of 2,700 nautical miles at 7 knots.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Business Law Section of the Florida Bar through its Financial Literacy Task Force has launched a new initiative — Senior$mart$ — which harnesses the knowledge of volunteer attorneys and judges to arm our senior population with the tools to secure their finances.—
Lori V. Vaughan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
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The man was alert and responsive during the rescue but complained of pain in his hip, lower back and arm.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Developers — as well as Fort Worth District 3 council member Michael Crain — had organized the meeting after residents formed the 2871 Community Coalition to educate each other and build an organizing strategy as the development picks up steam.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
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In order to troubleshoot the problem, crews are also educated on different planes and their components, including how many engines the aircraft may have or how many exit doors there are.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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