as in preludes
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-ups
That process starts before tipoff, as Dugalic said UCLA didn’t have its typical level of preparedness during warm-ups, and that carried into Saturday’s game.
—
Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Anthony Stolarz was expected to get the start but took a puck to the throat during warm-ups and was sent to hospital for precautionary imaging putting Joseph Woll back in action.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Dynamic warm-ups also help prepare the body for the impact of running.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
Ngongba was a game-time decision Saturday with foot soreness and ultimately did not suit up despite limited pregame warm-ups.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
His only side money until that weekend was a one-year deal with Pony, which provided warm-ups and his size-8 shoes.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
During her on-court warm-ups, Osaka donned a zip-up jacket with organic, wavy tendrils hanging from the sleeves.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Forward John Collins was a late scratch after experiencing soreness in his groin area during pregame warm-ups.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
Morning workouts may boost mood, sleep, blood pressure, and weight loss but require warm-ups and adequate fueling.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 9 Jan. 2026
Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Anthony Stolarz was expected to get the start but took a puck to the throat during warm-ups and was sent to hospital for precautionary imaging putting Joseph Woll back in action.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Dynamic warm-ups also help prepare the body for the impact of running.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
Ngongba was a game-time decision Saturday with foot soreness and ultimately did not suit up despite limited pregame warm-ups.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
His only side money until that weekend was a one-year deal with Pony, which provided warm-ups and his size-8 shoes.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
During her on-court warm-ups, Osaka donned a zip-up jacket with organic, wavy tendrils hanging from the sleeves.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Forward John Collins was a late scratch after experiencing soreness in his groin area during pregame warm-ups.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
Morning workouts may boost mood, sleep, blood pressure, and weight loss but require warm-ups and adequate fueling.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm-ups
preliminaries
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Warm-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm-ups. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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