Phrasal verb
warm up
Meanings
to do light exercise to prepare for more intense physical activity
to practice briefly and get ready for a performance or task
to become friendlier or more open after being shy, cold, or formal
Definition
To warm up means to do light activity to prepare your body or mind for something more demanding.
To warm up often means doing gentle exercise before harder physical activity so your muscles are ready. It can also mean preparing for a performance or task by practicing briefly. In another common use, it means becoming friendlier and more relaxed toward someone or something over time.
Examples
- I always warm up before I lift weights.
- You should warm up your voice before you sing on stage.
- He didn’t warm up to the new team at first, but he fits in now.
- She warmed up the audience with a short story before the main talk.
- They warm up by passing the ball around for five minutes.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "warm up" (prepare) with "warm up" meaning "make something hotter" and may forget that the heating sense usually needs an object (e.g., warm up the soup).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.