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
-
The event will serve as a prelude to the main iHeartCountry Festival show later that evening at 7 p.m. the Moody Center.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Yet the Southern California scores were a modest prelude to the job in Lebec.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2025
Verb
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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
-
Investigators determined that the Ethiopia and Indonesia crashes were caused by a system that relied on a sensor that provided faulty readings and pushed the plane noses down, leaving pilots unable to regain control.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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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If that determination is made, the U.S. Marshal must arrange for the transportation or furnish the cost, along with providing subsistence expenses incurred in traveling to court.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
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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Put it all together, and Bubic returned last year armed by a sense of himself and seizing the moment in the bullpen that in turn informed what’s come since.—
Vahe Gregorian
July 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Lin was educated in China and Europe, but lived in the U.S. for three decades.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
5 July 2025
-
In 2021, the city created a civilian community liaison position to connect police with citizens and educate the public.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warm%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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