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)
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
If the Roots Picnic performance was just a warm-up, then Jay-Z is very well on track to have the summer on lock yet again, without so much as a new single to his name.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026
To protect your joints, begin with a warm-up and finish with a cool-down.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 28 May 2026
Even the pace car, which leads the field through several warm-up laps prior to the start of the race and also leads the field during caution periods to slow the cars on the track, drives at about 110 mph.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Noun
Sabalenka started with an easy warm-up before laughing while transitioning to one of the signature dances from the King of Pop’s official music video.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
If the Roots Picnic performance was just a warm-up, then Jay-Z is very well on track to have the summer on lock yet again, without so much as a new single to his name.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026
To protect your joints, begin with a warm-up and finish with a cool-down.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 28 May 2026
Even the pace car, which leads the field through several warm-up laps prior to the start of the race and also leads the field during caution periods to slow the cars on the track, drives at about 110 mph.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Verb
-
Plans are underway to provide wetsuits to the men and the rescue divers taught the group how to use the specialized equipment.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
The policies proposed by the candidates range from eliminating key environmental laws to providing free childcare and college tuition.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
That actually proved the prelude to an even more extraordinary attack on the board in his post-match press conference just 24 hours later, following a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Look what happened last night, that was a prelude to the midterms.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The fourth time, a bigger dam is built on their land to supply hydropower.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
-
Moscow also controls a significant portion of Armenia’s energy and infrastructure and supplies it with cheap gas, which is a point that Putin has been quick to drive home in his meetings with Pashinyan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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.—
Ryan Gaydos OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 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
Verb
-
The main event, though, is the ski room—where ski butlers furnish guests with state-of-the-art skis before sliding them onto the slicked Jardin Alpin piste with or without an instructor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Corey Thornton furnished perhaps the splashiest play of the day when the cornerback intercepted a Bryce Young pass in 7-on-7 work in the red zone.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Accessibility There are six rooms with accessible showers, which can also be equipped with a chair if necessary.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Outside, the pool house is equipped with an outdoor fireplace for cooking, ideal for whipping up meals during pool parties and the like.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
There is also a hand and arm massage and then another scalp massage and then a cooling down of the steaming before the final rinse.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
-
Arteta embraced his wife Lorena, and sang North London Forever arm in arm with Josh Kroenke and board member Ben Winston.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Open-minded, passionate, forthright and brave, Eva is well-educated, well-read, adventurous, generous of spirit, a world-traveler.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
-
His enforcers were trained in torture techniques by the CIA and educated in the theories expounded by the political scientist Samuel Huntington.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
