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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of warm (up)
Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
After doing some warm-up gigs in Las Vegas, the group did a homecoming show at the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025
Please include rest days and warm-up ideas as well.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
The appearance came after warm-up gigs in Scotland for Mental Health Awareness Week, which were held in partnership with mental health charity CALM.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Verb
Air conditioning in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was turned off for routine maintenance that took longer than expected, resulting in an unexpected warm-up.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
After doing some warm-up gigs in Las Vegas, the group did a homecoming show at the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025
Please include rest days and warm-up ideas as well.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
The appearance came after warm-up gigs in Scotland for Mental Health Awareness Week, which were held in partnership with mental health charity CALM.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for warm (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warm (up)
Noun
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While the most intense heat will center on Virginia and the Carolinas Thursday, temperatures will also climb across parts of the Northeast and central US in a prelude to next week’s more expansive and intense heat dome.—
Tyler Ory,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
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An original amuse bouche of edible Yame tea, Yamanaka’s personalized version of a Japanese tea ceremony, is a prelude to an unforgettable dinner course at Viridis.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Verb
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Factors like weather patterns, the size of animal populations that provide food for ticks, and outdoor human activities can affect the scale of tick exposures.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
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The village’s economic incentive award program provides financial assistance to eligible new or expanding businesses in the downtown tax increment financing district.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Today's listen Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week, with preliminaries kicking off last night.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
28 May 2025
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Sports High School Sports News See who qualified from Thursday's preliminaries for the CIFSS Division 1 finals on Saturday at Mt. SAC.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Its patriarch, Eugenio, began supplying a few hundred liters of wine to small stores and nobles residing there.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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Like Bacall, who supplied mystery and magic to help make Bogart a movie star, AOC supplied the energy and magic to make Mamdani a political star.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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Some players also furnished The Observer with previously unseen photos and videos from that remarkable season, and those will also be displayed.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 July 2025
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The furnished private terrace overlooks the canal and is furnished with a babbling stone fountain.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
8 July 2025
Verb
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In this way, musicians are uniquely equipped for reinvention.—
Victoria Chynoweth,
Rolling Stone,
11 July 2025
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In other words, he was thrust into a challenging role that he was no longer equipped to handle.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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This year, Boissy was visibly in the best physical condition of his career, armed with a different mental approach to the game that fuelled his MVP run.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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In the past 48 hours, US President Donald Trump has perhaps said his most forcefully direct words yet on arming Ukraine.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Verb
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The panel called on the convention crowd to educate themselves on their rights and speak out about their concerns — and not just online.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
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And as the number of A schools creeps upward, that’s ignited a debate on whether Florida is grading its schools effectively, and whether grade inflation is masking continued difficulties educating students.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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