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)
Nancy Gibbs, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
But Steinman lacked the meticulous attention to detail they had been conditioned to demand by Lange, going so far as to accept an out-of-tune warm-up take.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
Meanwhile warm-up demonstrations in Portland feature protestors in inflatable animal costumes—lots of frogs, along with unicorns, chickens, dinosaurs dancing in the streets, providing an alternative visual to the menace of masked enforcement agents.
—Nancy Gibbs, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
But Steinman lacked the meticulous attention to detail they had been conditioned to demand by Lange, going so far as to accept an out-of-tune warm-up take.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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The study also provides a previously unidentified constraint for models of tidal heat production, shell thickness, and the long-term evolution of Enceladus’ ocean.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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The indictment contends that Jones provided information regarding key players on the Los Angeles Lakers’ status in advance of games on two dates to enable third-parties to make potentially favorable bets.—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Known as Kristallnacht, it is considered a prelude to the Holocaust.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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The week-long extravaganza, which includes events in Los Angeles, as well as content across Paramount platforms, will act as a fittingly extravagant and entertaining prelude to the 83rd Golden Globes ceremony.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The peaches were used to make the salsas produced by both manufacturers and supplied to Kroger locations.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Companies used the standpipe to bring water to the Rio Verde Foothills housing development after Scottsdale stopped supplying that community with water for several months in 2023.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Santana finished a weak fourth in the preliminary.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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Tables and playing pieces are furnished.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
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In addition, organizations would likely struggle to fund the start-up costs of building or furnishing a new building meant to house homeless veterans, plus provide all of the resources offered in Green Bay and Chippewa Falls previously.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There’s a school of thought that Liverpool will be better equipped to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League rather than domestic honours this season.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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Its roots can be traced back to the 1960s, when engineer Paul Jameson built a custom chassis for a Rolls-Royce Meteor tank engine and Dodd, a transmission specialist, equipped it with a custom GM Hydramatic 400 gearbox.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While each of these submarines is designed to carry up to 16 nuclear missiles, France only possesses 48 ballistic missiles—enough to arm three submarines, as the remaining vessel is always undergoing routine maintenance, the Nuclear Information Project said.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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To continue complying with SB 1383, the city must start inspecting what customers are putting in their bins and keep trying to educate those who are making mistakes.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
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Her work primarily focuses on monitoring the oil and gas industry, assessing its impacts and educating community members about production and regulation.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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