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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 10 Dec. 2024
The other big question is whether a good, hard warm-up accomplishes the same thing.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024
As more players take the field to warm-up, colleague Jeff Zrebiec stops by to catch up.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
In this scenario, the move works great as a warm-up activation drill before a workout, Dr. Betiku says—like this four-move lower-body dumbbell routine, for example.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for warm (up) 
Noun
Lean into Nordic life with a warm-up inside floating sauna Sisu + Löyly.
—Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 10 Dec. 2024
The other big question is whether a good, hard warm-up accomplishes the same thing.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024
As more players take the field to warm-up, colleague Jeff Zrebiec stops by to catch up.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
In this scenario, the move works great as a warm-up activation drill before a workout, Dr. Betiku says—like this four-move lower-body dumbbell routine, for example.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
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Here’s how can Hoosiers help bats at home Installing bat boxes can help provide emergency shelters for bats that might need them when proper roosts are unavailable.Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Dec. 2024
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But the Bengals’ subpar pass protection — 10th most pressures allowed and 19th pressure rate (32.3%) — provides an opportunity for the Broncos’ pass rushers to improve the odds.Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The altcoin rally observed since November appears to be a prelude to a bigger altcoin season in 2025.Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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If past is prelude, Trump’s resulting approach will likely be highly disruptive—especially since some of his goals are mutually incompatible.Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Apparently real life—both past and present—supplied more than enough excitement.Victor Cha, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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Johnson supplied his own menorah, which was made out of shrapnel from rockets shot down by the Israel Defense Forces.Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Southern Section held its track and field preliminaries at four sites around Southern California on Saturday, and sophomore Brian Bonner of Valencia High continued his rise to prominence.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
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In 1988: Greg Louganis won the gold medal in the 3-meter springboard at the Seoul Olympics one day after hitting his head on the diving board during the preliminaries.Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024
Verb
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In the 16th century, Rabelais furnished his novels with long lists of books, using the titles to satirize ecclesiastical libraries, the clergy, and religion in general.Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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The room is also furnished with wardrobes and some drawers.Adam Williams, New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While some prisons have taken steps to provide hospice and palliative care to a limited number of residents, many facilities are not equipped to care for a high volume of older adults, a report from the Office of the Inspector General confirms.Tom Chiodo, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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My concern is that, despite being fully grown and then some, I just won’t be adequately equipped.Daisy Jones, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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China has been calling for other nations armed with nuclear weapons to make the same commitment to no-first-use of nukes.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement But the filmmakers know when to elongate tension elsewhere, as in a deliciously mean-spirited dinner scene in which the Count, armed with his unwitting targets’ secret sins, toys with them, a performance that also betrays an inkling of his cruelty’s perilousness.Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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These beautiful American Women quarters will be in circulation for decades to come and continue to educate the American people on our incredible honorees.Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024
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Smith began working ahead of the 2018 midterm election to educate and register Black and brown voters, contracting with Rock The Vote, among others.Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near warm (up)
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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