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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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
And still, the Broncos’ Thursday warm-up playlist was more cohesive than their offense has been through three games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
But a couple of days before the album came out, the band was forced to cancel three release-week shows after Oberst suffered a severe vocal injury following several warm-up shows.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
With conditions restored on the 236-meter flight deck, Barone made multiple warm-up passes to heat the SF90’s V8 engine and then launched from the aft end, stopping safely before ascending the ramp.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
On Friday, a warm-up that is expected to have the warmest places hit 80 degrees is supposed settle in and last at least through the weekend.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
And still, the Broncos’ Thursday warm-up playlist was more cohesive than their offense has been through three games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
But a couple of days before the album came out, the band was forced to cancel three release-week shows after Oberst suffered a severe vocal injury following several warm-up shows.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
With conditions restored on the 236-meter flight deck, Barone made multiple warm-up passes to heat the SF90’s V8 engine and then launched from the aft end, stopping safely before ascending the ramp.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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The Venezuelan regime has condemned the deployment as an act of coercion and a potential prelude to intervention.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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What wasn’t revealed at the time, however, was how this was a prelude to the Netflix special early next year.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Arrington provided several recommendations on how to acquire such a replica.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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The governor vetoed a bill on Saturday that would have provided more transparency around the water usage of data centers, which regularly require millions of gallons of fresh water to cool their computers.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
12 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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The Carolina program also came under scrutiny after an assistant cornerbacks coach was suspended following the Week 6 loss to Clemson for allegations of extra benefits, after supplying a player’s family members with sideline passes for a game.—
Lauren Merola,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Their testimonies supplied evidence, such as dash cam footage, videos of Rocha shooting and 3D printing guns, police interviews with Rocha and his mother, and incidents where Rocha was found with contraband in prison.—
PJ Green
October 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Together, the two firms will collaborate on the project’s development by furnishing the spaces with the brand’s new collection, Oniro chief executive officer Moreno Brambilla said in a statement.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
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Fita was one of Athens’ first new-style tavernas, housed in a warehouse and furnished with old-school tables and chairs.—
Katherine Whittaker,
Saveur,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That's merit, allocating social roles to those well equipped to perform them.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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American laws aren’t equipped to deal with the fast-moving ambitions of CEO Elon Musk, and Washington doesn’t seem in a hurry to regulate his company.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 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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Tedesco learned about Reparation Generation last year through a church group and further got involved by hosting home meetings this year to educate others about the organization's work.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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