warm-up

1 of 2

noun

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

warm up

2 of 2

verb

warmed up; warming up; warms up

intransitive verb

: to engage in exercise or practice especially before entering a game or contest
broadly : to get ready

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
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.
Noun
But the inspector’s job doesn’t end after warm-ups. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025 Before jumping into it, make sure to do a dynamic warm-up (like these two that feature bodyweight versions of the key movement patterns) to get your muscles primed and ready for the work ahead. Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
The wood floors, dining set, and ceiling beams add character and warm up the cool paint color, while the wall of windows floods the space with natural light. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2025 Fuel up—and warm up—after a day out in the elements with a steak dinner at Stonewalls Restaurant. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for warm-up 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of warm-up was in 1846

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 19 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

warm-up

noun
ˈwȯr-ˌməp
1
: the act or an instance of warming up
2
: a practice or set of exercises done before a game, contest, or workout

Medical 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

More from Merriam-Webster on warm-up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!