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
Thomas Meaney, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
After calmly and methodically taking his warm-up pitches with the sun setting ever so quickly behind third base, Garonzik worked back-to-back strikeouts to seal Pikesville’s 7-5 victory against host Franklin.
—James Peters, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2024
The night before, Cage played a small warm-up gig at the Echoplex in L.A.’s Highland Park neighborhood, one of their first shows since wrapping their Night Running Tour toward the end of 2022.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2024
Experts say that doing a proper warm-up and cool-down, stretching, maintaining proper form, and having adequate rest and recovery are key factors in preventing muscle and tendon injuries.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 13 May 2024
After some warm-up breaths, the screaming and swinging begin.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
In fact, the Coachella dates (and a warm-up show in Pomona, Calif. last week) were outliers; the group last performed in November.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Camilo Doval — after a full complement of warm-up pitches — pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his third save of the season, his second of the road trip.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart needs a warm-up.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 23 May 2024
Leading up to their ceremonial first pitches, it was noted that Brink had been seen warming up her pitching arm while Jackson had not.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
Who doesn’t want to feel the sun on their skin and the wind through their hair once the weather starts to warm up?
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
The Nordics are also warming up, with Oslo forecast to reach a high of 23°C on May 14, hotter than Madrid, according to Weather Services International.
—TIME, 8 May 2024
Instead, the fans who endured the 2-hour, 41-minute interlude were treated to a fireworks exhibit shortly after the sun went down and players warmed up on the field.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024
Oscar De La Hoya didn’t even give the golf simulator in his new man cave time to warm up before deciding to flip his sprawling Las Vegas mansion tucked away in the hillside community of Henderson back on the market.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 May 2024
The orchestra warmed up nearby; extras quickstepped through the curving halls in 1950s-era costumes and stage makeup.
—Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024
Lately, she’s been loving to warm up to Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy in its entirety.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024
Noun
Before a room where Nigerian military brass mingled with Latvian diplomats, Harris delivered a State of the Union warm-up to Democrats in Ohio.
—Thomas Meaney, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
After calmly and methodically taking his warm-up pitches with the sun setting ever so quickly behind third base, Garonzik worked back-to-back strikeouts to seal Pikesville’s 7-5 victory against host Franklin.
—James Peters, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2024
The night before, Cage played a small warm-up gig at the Echoplex in L.A.’s Highland Park neighborhood, one of their first shows since wrapping their Night Running Tour toward the end of 2022.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2024
Experts say that doing a proper warm-up and cool-down, stretching, maintaining proper form, and having adequate rest and recovery are key factors in preventing muscle and tendon injuries.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 13 May 2024
After some warm-up breaths, the screaming and swinging begin.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
In fact, the Coachella dates (and a warm-up show in Pomona, Calif. last week) were outliers; the group last performed in November.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
Camilo Doval — after a full complement of warm-up pitches — pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his third save of the season, his second of the road trip.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart needs a warm-up.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Temperatures are warming up in Sacramento, just in time for Memorial Day.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 23 May 2024
Leading up to their ceremonial first pitches, it was noted that Brink had been seen warming up her pitching arm while Jackson had not.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
Who doesn’t want to feel the sun on their skin and the wind through their hair once the weather starts to warm up?
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
The Nordics are also warming up, with Oslo forecast to reach a high of 23°C on May 14, hotter than Madrid, according to Weather Services International.
—TIME, 8 May 2024
Instead, the fans who endured the 2-hour, 41-minute interlude were treated to a fireworks exhibit shortly after the sun went down and players warmed up on the field.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024
Oscar De La Hoya didn’t even give the golf simulator in his new man cave time to warm up before deciding to flip his sprawling Las Vegas mansion tucked away in the hillside community of Henderson back on the market.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 May 2024
The orchestra warmed up nearby; extras quickstepped through the curving halls in 1950s-era costumes and stage makeup.
—Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024
Lately, she’s been loving to warm up to Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy in its entirety.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'warm-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 2 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share