warm up

warm up — phrasal verb

  • warm upbase form
  • warms up3rd person singular
  • warming up-ing form
  • warmed uppast simple

1. to get your body ready for physical activity by doing light exercises or practic

1.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to get your body ready for physical activity by doing light exercises or practice movements before the main activity begins.

例句

Leo always spends ten minutes warming up before a race.

intransitive: warm up before [event]

The choir warmed up their voices with scales before the concert.

transitive: warm up [body part]

同義詞
  • loosen up

    more informal, focuses on relaxing the muscles

  • stretch

    a narrower action — only stretching, not a full warm-up routine

  • prepare

    more general; does not imply physical movement

反義詞
  • cool down

    the light exercise done after the main activity to help the body recover

文法句型

warm up

warm [noun] up

warm up for [noun]

用法筆記

The object can go between 'warm' and 'up' (warm your legs up) or after 'up' (warm up your legs). Both are correct. Frequently used in sports contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I need to warm down before the game.
✅I need to warm up before the game.
💡'warm up' is for preparation; 'cool down' is for after exercise.

2. to allow an engine, vehicle, or machine to operate briefly so that it reaches th

2.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to allow an engine, vehicle, or machine to operate briefly so that it reaches the right temperature and works correctly.

例句

Ignacio let the car engine warm up for a few minutes before driving off.

intransitive: let [machine] warm up

The pilot warmed up the aircraft's engines on the runway.

transitive: warm up [machine]

同義詞
  • heat up

    more general; can apply to machines or food

  • run in

    British English; for a new engine, break it in gently over time

文法句型

warm up

warm [noun] up

用法筆記

Commonly used for car engines, aircraft, industrial machinery, and some electronic devices that need to reach a stable operating temperature.

常見錯誤

❌I warmed up the dinner in the microwave.' (when you mean reheating food)
✅I reheated the dinner in the microwave.
💡for food, use sense 4 (reheat); for machines, use sense 2.

3. to become more energetic, enthusiastic, or friendly, or to make a situation, eve

3.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to become more energetic, enthusiastic, or friendly, or to make a situation, event, or group of people more lively and enjoyable.

例句

The party only warmed up after Ryo started playing his guitar.

intransitive: event warms up

The comedian told a few jokes to warm up the audience.

transitive: warm up [group of people]

同義詞
  • liven up

    more informal; similar meaning for events and groups

  • loosen up

    specific to people becoming less tense or shy

  • get going

    informal; can mean starting to gain energy or momentum

反義詞
  • cool off

    when enthusiasm or interest decreases

文法句型

warm up

warm [noun] up

warm up to [noun]

用法筆記

When used of a person (e.g. 'he warmed up'), it means they became more relaxed and sociable, not physically warm. For a group or event, it means the atmosphere became more exciting.

常見錯誤

❌The soup is warming up on the stove.
✅The soup is heating up on the stove.
💡for food temperature, use sense 4 (reheat) or 'heat up'; sense 3 is about energy and mood, not physical temperature.

4. to heat already-cooked food again so that it becomes hot enough to eat.

4.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to heat already-cooked food again so that it becomes hot enough to eat.

例句

Meera warmed up the leftovers from last night's dinner.

transitive: warm up [food]

Can you warm the soup up while I set the table?

verb + object between particles

同義詞
  • reheat

    more formal; same meaning

  • heat up

    slightly more general; can also mean to make something hot for the first time

反義詞
  • cool down

    to let food become colder before eating

文法句型

warm up [noun]

warm [noun] up

用法筆記

This sense is transitive only — you need an object (the food you are reheating). Used in informal, everyday contexts. For a microwave or oven, you would say 'warm up in the microwave' or 'warm up in the oven.'

常見錯誤

❌The soup is warming up.
✅I'm warming up the soup.
💡food must be the object, not the subject, unless you are using an intransitive sense (in which case it means the engine, not the food!).