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)
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
But a warm-up is coming for the weekend, with temperatures climbing to the mid-70s on Saturday and the mid to upper 80s on Sunday, according to the weather service.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
Before the jackets are issued, the trophies are inscribed and the $20 million purse is disbursed, PGA fans can catch a leisurely warm-up swing for this weekend’s Masters.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Weekend warm-up likely in metro A warming trend with dry weather is expected for the weekend.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
Prior to the Coachella gig, the Go-Go’s played a warm-up show at Los Angeles’ the Roxy this week.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
But a warm-up is coming for the weekend, with temperatures climbing to the mid-70s on Saturday and the mid to upper 80s on Sunday, according to the weather service.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
Before the jackets are issued, the trophies are inscribed and the $20 million purse is disbursed, PGA fans can catch a leisurely warm-up swing for this weekend’s Masters.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Weekend warm-up likely in metro A warming trend with dry weather is expected for the weekend.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Dutch florists provided tens of thousands of flowers in an intricate, colorful layout − a tradition in its 39th year.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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This leaves open the possibility that deportations could proceed if the Trump administration provides further legal assurances that satisfy the Court's requirements for judicial review.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The city’s live music series, presented by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, is a prelude to summer, bringing Sacramento natives and visitors together to celebrate and support the local talent produced in Sacramento.—
Marcus D. Smith,
Sacbee.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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This investigation is a likely prelude to Trump’s tariffs to come.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Brembo supplies the braking, and the new 700 boasts adjustable preload, rebound, and compression.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Apr. 2025
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His four-year contract also supplies long-term depth.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Late preliminaries available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. ET.—
Jim Varsallone,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
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While the diving kicked off Thursday, the swimming gets underway with preliminaries on Friday, with the finals for both swimming and diving slated for Saturday.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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According to the Washington Post, many government workers have been submitting the same boilerplate reply, over and over, furnishing a preview of the White House’s plan to replace the federal labor pool with digital assistants.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
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Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the group has successfully coordinated production quotas among its own members and the ten other countries that form OPEC+ to stabilize and sustain high oil prices, furnishing its members more than a trillion dollars in gross revenue.—
Ngaire Woods,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The factory is equipped with intelligent systems that streamline production while maintaining standards.—
Lauren Carpenter,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Since not all queries require that level of ongoing analysis, Google has equipped Flash with some tools that can help developers tune it for their use case.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The sides have since armed themselves with hundreds of nuclear warheads, missile delivery systems, advanced fighter jets and modern weapons to take on each other.—
Time,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
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While in the backyard of one of these homes, officers see over a fence that a woman has stepped into her backyard armed with a handgun.—
Jack Hannah,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This free forum will help educate the community on the probate process and available resources available to start estate planning efforts.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Apr. 2025
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Another idea pitch presented to the White House called for more funding efforts to educate women about their menstrual cycles, the newspaper reported.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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