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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of warm (up)
Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Brownwood defeated Lake Worth, 2-0 in a playoff warm-up game in Brownwood on March 12.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Castle was a late scratch after his hip flared up during warm-ups.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
As this year’s opening act, Green was a solid warm-up for what was to come, a way for everything to find the rhythm.
—Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Brownwood defeated Lake Worth, 2-0 in a playoff warm-up game in Brownwood on March 12.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Castle was a late scratch after his hip flared up during warm-ups.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
-
The challenge is that manure is already extremely nutrient-dense—often providing far more nitrogen and phosphorus than even a productive garden requires.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The district spokesperson said Friday that as part of its contingency planning, LAUSD is preparing to provide take-home instructional materials and access to online learning, along with devices and internet connectivity where needed.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sonis hopes the record-breaking Saturday will be a prelude to bigger moments to come in the NWSL, which has seen rapid growth in popularity over the past decade.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
As a prelude to a lunar landing, the flight was an important step in testing the flight trajectory and operations before astronauts stepped foot on the moon's surface.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once controlled by governments, Earth observation has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry supplying near-real-time intelligence to clients worldwide.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Attracting Beneficial Insects Nature supplies its own form of pest control through predators and parasitoids.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
-
At the home, on West First Avenue in Hialeah, rooms were well-furnished, clean and tidy.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Reclaiming and then furnishing these apartments was both practical and emotional.—
Shannon Fogg,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The flight times of the drones, which are equipped with parachutes for the safety of those below in the event of a malfunction, are estimated at around 35 minutes.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The property is equipped with a heating system.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The leak could also give hackers a major leg up in their efforts to identify exploitable software vulnerabilities — or find new ways to arm their own instances of Claude Code for nefarious purposes.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Business Law Section of the Florida Bar through its Financial Literacy Task Force has launched a new initiative — Senior$mart$ — which harnesses the knowledge of volunteer attorneys and judges to arm our senior population with the tools to secure their finances.—
Lori V. Vaughan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One floor underground is a labyrinth of snazzy, high-tech equipment designed to bio-hack, educate and optimize performance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
