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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
As a warm-up act in a stadium, the big man exploited his hour to the fullest.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2025
Besides being a warm-up for August’s Summer Fest, the party also was an opportunity to honor Henry Schiro, an early supporter of what was then known as the San Jose Jazz Society who served as its executive director for more than a decade.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Queen’s, sponsor-titled as the HSBC Championships, is the premier warm-up for Wimbledon at the start of the tennis grass-court season.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
Capaldi has been slowly testing the waters of a comeback, performing a run of warm-up shows in Scotland as a guest of Tom Walker’s charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
As a warm-up act in a stadium, the big man exploited his hour to the fullest.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2025
Besides being a warm-up for August’s Summer Fest, the party also was an opportunity to honor Henry Schiro, an early supporter of what was then known as the San Jose Jazz Society who served as its executive director for more than a decade.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Queen’s, sponsor-titled as the HSBC Championships, is the premier warm-up for Wimbledon at the start of the tennis grass-court season.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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The event will serve as a prelude to the main iHeartCountry Festival show later that evening at 7 p.m. the Moody Center.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Yet the Southern California scores were a modest prelude to the job in Lebec.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Made with a titanium barrel, these curling irons heat the hair from within, ensuring minimal damage while providing a long-lasting hold.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
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As of this writing, NASA has not provided any details on when and where the reports will be available again or if the new assessment will proceed.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
28 May 2025
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Sports High School Sports News See who qualified from Thursday's preliminaries for the CIFSS Division 1 finals on Saturday at Mt. SAC.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Its patriarch, Eugenio, began supplying a few hundred liters of wine to small stores and nobles residing there.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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Like Bacall, who supplied mystery and magic to help make Bogart a movie star, AOC supplied the energy and magic to make Mamdani a political star.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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Some players also furnished The Observer with previously unseen photos and videos from that remarkable season, and those will also be displayed.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 July 2025
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If that determination is made, the U.S. Marshal must arrange for the transportation or furnish the cost, along with providing subsistence expenses incurred in traveling to court.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Verb
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In other words, he was thrust into a challenging role that he was no longer equipped to handle.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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In this way, musicians are uniquely equipped for reinvention.—
Victoria Chynoweth,
Rolling Stone,
11 July 2025
Verb
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This year, Boissy was visibly in the best physical condition of his career, armed with a different mental approach to the game that fuelled his MVP run.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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In the past 48 hours, US President Donald Trump has perhaps said his most forcefully direct words yet on arming Ukraine.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Lin was educated in China and Europe, but lived in the U.S. for three decades.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
5 July 2025
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In 2021, the city created a civilian community liaison position to connect police with citizens and educate the public.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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