warm up meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

warm-up

nounalso spelled warm-up

Etymology Deverbal from warm up.

The act of exercising or stretching in preparation for strenuous activity

Any act of preparation for a performance

A period of time allocated for performing warm-ups.

verb

/ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/

9 senses

To become warmer.

He came inside to warm up.
It took a long time for the place to warm up and to counteract the cold and enable their fingers to cope with the delicate task of moulding, the men would often surround themselves with blocks of iron heated in the furnace.1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 342:

To heat or reheat (e.g. food).

I couldn't be bothered to cook another meal so I just warmed up yesterday's leftovers.

To reach, or cause to reach, a normal operating temperature (of a car for example).

› To physically or mentally prepare oneself…

Figuratively To do gentle exercise, stretching etc., in order to prepare the body for more vigorous exercise.

Figuratively To prepare for an activity by carrying out a practice or preparation routine.

Figuratively To make (an audience) enthusiastic or animated before a show.

Rich knew how to warm up the audience of The Price is Right. His good looks and charming personality made even that special.
It was a dark Saturday night last month on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where Saturday nights can get very dark, but Sabrina Brier, in a rhinestone necklace and strapless plaid pantsuit, was agleam onstage at a basement comedy club called Caveat warming up the crowd.2023 March 14, Alexandra Jacobs, “Your Annoying Roommate Is Slaying on TikTok”, in The New York Times:

Figuratively Synonym of warm (to favor increasingly).

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Synonym of warm (“prepopulate a cache”).

Internet Synonym of warm (“send mail from a domain to improve reputation”).