variants
or less commonly warmup
1
: the act or an instance of warming up
also
: a preparatory activity or procedure
2
: a suit for exercise or casual wear consisting of a jacket or sweatshirt and pants
—often used in plural
called also warm-up suit
warmed up; warming up; warms up
: to engage in exercise or practice especially before entering a game or contest
broadly
: to get ready
Synonyms
Examples of warm-up in a Sentence
Noun
the couple's initial exchange of insults proved to be only a warm-up for their booze-fueled fight later that night
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
He was named to the U.S. World Cup team in 2002 but missed the tournament after being injured in one of the final warm-up games.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Jodie Cook, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
There is something so special and harmonious in using the same hues to warm up the face and accentuate the eyes—especially when the shades are as jovial as Chanel’s Enchanted Night palette, inspired by the northern lights and snowfall.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for warm-up 
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Noun
Later this week, a gradual warm-up as clouds increase ahead of another front.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
He was named to the U.S. World Cup team in 2002 but missed the tournament after being injured in one of the final warm-up games.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
Start testing a new social media platform, but only after your audience warms up to your presence.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
There is something so special and harmonious in using the same hues to warm up the face and accentuate the eyes—especially when the shades are as jovial as Chanel’s Enchanted Night palette, inspired by the northern lights and snowfall.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for warm-up
Dictionary Entries Near warm-up
Cite this Entry
“Warm-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warm-up. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
warm-up
1 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of warming up
also
: a procedure (as a set of exercises) used in warming up
warm up
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to engage in preliminary exercise (as to stretch the muscles)
important to warm up properly before running
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