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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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-ups
Temperatures are expected to ramp up across Southern California this weekend, with some valley warm-ups expected to approach 100 degrees, just in time for Mother’s Day.
—
Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Once again the Joker to Mendoza’s Batman, Diego Pavia reveals he overslept and missed pregame warm-ups against Bama.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 5 May 2026
The weather service office in New York said pronounced warm-ups are expected Monday with above-normal temperatures through most of the week.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
All have been personally worn by Curry during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
During warm-ups on Tuesday, Donovan Sebrango appeared to have been the only Panthers player to wrap rainbow tape onto his hockey stick.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 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
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
Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Once again the Joker to Mendoza’s Batman, Diego Pavia reveals he overslept and missed pregame warm-ups against Bama.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 5 May 2026
The weather service office in New York said pronounced warm-ups are expected Monday with above-normal temperatures through most of the week.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
All have been personally worn by Curry during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
During warm-ups on Tuesday, Donovan Sebrango appeared to have been the only Panthers player to wrap rainbow tape onto his hockey stick.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm-ups
preliminaries
Noun
-
Hernandez, now a Southern Section champion again, along with all the other winners will move onto the CIF preliminaries next Saturday to face the rest of the state's top female jumpers, with a chance to get back to the state finals.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Tennyson never made it to the Southern Section track preliminaries after winning the league title.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm-ups. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
