Warm-up: Definition, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：Pre-exercise routine (Warm-up)

Warm-up 🔊

/ˈwɔːrm ʌp/

Easy activities you do before exercise to get your body ready and avoid injury.

Warm-up exercises: person doing light jumping jacks in park

Pre-exercise routine 🔊

➕

/priː ˈɛksərsaɪz ruːˈtiːn/

A set of light exercises performed before physical activity to prepare the body and reduce injury risk.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'warm' (to heat) + 'up' (increase), meaning preparation for activity.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine warming up your muscles like heating a car engine before a race.

📖 Example

Before running, I always do a 5-minute warm-up to stretch my legs. 🔊 Before running, I always do a 5-minute warm-up to stretch my legs.

🔗 Collocations

do a warm-up – perform light exercises before physical activity

warm-up routine – a series of preparatory exercises

warm-up stretches – light stretching before activity

🔄 Synonyms

preparatory exercise (n.) – exercise done to get ready for physical activity

loosening-up (n.) – light activity to relax muscles

🚫 Antonyms

cool-down (n.) – exercises after activity to recover

📖 Cultural Story

Originated in 20th-century sports training to prevent injury. Later adopted for any preparatory activity in social or educational contexts.

Meaning 2：Icebreaker activity (Warm-up)

Warm-up 🔊

/ˈwɔːrm ʌp/

A short, fun activity at the start of an event to help people relax and get involved.

Warm-up icebreaker: group playing clapping game in meeting room

Icebreaker activity 🔊

➕

/ˈaɪsbreɪkər ækˈtɪvɪti/

A brief, engaging activity at the start of a meeting or class to help participants relax and interact.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Our teacher started the class with a quick vocabulary game as a warm-up. 🔊 Our teacher started the class with a quick vocabulary game as a warm-up.

🔗 Collocations

warm-up game – a fun game to start a session

warm-up activity – an introductory exercise

icebreaker warm-up – a social activity to reduce tension

🔄 Synonyms

icebreaker (n.) – an activity to start conversation or interaction

opening exercise (n.) – first task in a session

🚫 Antonyms

closing activity (n.) – an activity to end a session