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)
Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 4 June 2025
During that show, Durand didn’t pay much attention to workouts or warm-ups.
—Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Maybe the fame machine has offered a gracious glimpse, and some of the questions faced by ghostwriters who have seen books turn from things of beauty to cogs in the wheel are a warm-up.
—Anna Mitchael
may 30, Literary Hub, 30 May 2025
Head coach Tom Thibodeau had described Towns as a game-time decision, and Towns did not take the court at his normal time for pre-game warm-ups.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
There are vocal and dance warm-up sessions, pre-show glam, meeting her fans, and then the main event: A riveting show.
—Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 4 June 2025
During that show, Durand didn’t pay much attention to workouts or warm-ups.
—Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Maybe the fame machine has offered a gracious glimpse, and some of the questions faced by ghostwriters who have seen books turn from things of beauty to cogs in the wheel are a warm-up.
—Anna Mitchael
may 30, Literary Hub, 30 May 2025
Head coach Tom Thibodeau had described Towns as a game-time decision, and Towns did not take the court at his normal time for pre-game warm-ups.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Stankey believed substantially more content would increase viewer engagement, and that would provide more data, in turn enabling monetization through advertising and subscriptions.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Turning compost piles provides more air to beneficial microbes, helping to speed up the composting process and creating enough heat to kill weed seeds, pests, and pathogens.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
Noun
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That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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And treat every phase not as prelude to the final answer but as a source of directional learning.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Germany plans to commit $10.4 billion in financial aid to Ukraine in 2025, significantly increasing its defense support package while stopping short of supplying long-range Taurus missiles.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Francis supplied 16 of the 24 team points that gave the Eagles their third-place finish in the CIF State team standings.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
12 June 2025
Noun
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And this month, he was seeded No. 1 in the Division II 50-yard freestyle at CIF and won in the preliminaries before being edged in the finals by 0.05 seconds.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2025
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As a preliminary for Roland Garros, a good run in Rome will do just fine to get the rust out of the racket.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
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The apartment, which came furnished, rents for $300 a month.—
Levi King,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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In the hundreds of Maricopa County death penalty cases that prosecutors have pursued since 2007, the cost of furnishing the accused with an adequate defense has totaled $289 million.—
Nicole Santa Cruz,
ProPublica,
9 June 2025
Verb
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That light is divided into 16 independent channels, all equipped with their own secondary lens and detector cameras designed to flag extremely faint objects.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
5 June 2025
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People without air conditioning in their homes were urged to stay overnight at a friend's house equipped with cooling capabilities.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Despite this, preliminary reports indicate that on Friday morning, non-stealthy fourth-generation Israeli F-16s armed with small-diameter bombs flew less than 50 miles outside the heart of Tehran.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Based on historical sources, officials identified the structure as a single-room anti-tank bunker, likely armed with an anti-tank gun and occupied by four people.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Retail investors shouldn’t be seen as hurdles, but rather as opportunities for widespread adoption, and must be educated for sustainable innovation.—
Joash Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Healthcare providers and community leaders must also educate patients about vaccination benefits, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and those with high exposure.—
Dr. Jerome Adams,
Time,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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