warm up

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	warm up
he/she/it	warmsup
present participle	warmingup
past tense	warmedup
past participle	warmedup

1
transitive same as warm
I’ll warm up some soup for lunch.
2
intransitive to become warm
Drink this and you’ll soon warm up.
Synonyms and related words
Changes in temperature
cool
cool off
fry
3
intransitive/transitive to prepare for a sport or activity by doing gentle exercises or practising just before it starts
The players are already on the field warming up.
stretching exercises to warm up your calf muscles
Synonyms and related words
To do physical exercise as a way of keeping fit
burn off
exercise
firm up
1. 3a
  intransitive to prepare for a particular race, game, or competition by competing in less important events first
  The boys warmed up for their big game with a 4–0 win at Derby last week.
  Synonyms and related words
  To do physical exercise as a way of keeping fit
  burn off
  exercise
  firm up
4
transitive if you warm up a machine or an engine, you switch it on and wait for a little while until it is ready to be used
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
1. 4a
  intransitive if a machine or an engine warms up, it becomes ready to be used after someone switches it on
  In cold weather it takes longer for the car to warm up.
  Synonyms and related words
  Engine and machine behaviour
  backfire
  burn up
  come to life
5
intransitive/transitive if an event or situation warms up, or if something warms it up, it starts to become enjoyable, interesting, or busy
By midnight the party had really warmed up.
Synonyms and related words
To become better
improve
recover
look up
6
transitive if a minor performer warms up an audience, they put the audience in the right mood for the main performance
Synonyms and related words
To perform or entertain, or to be performed
amuse
appear
compère