Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after warm up

Warm up for, to, or with

Warm up is usually followed by for when preparing for an activity, or with when referring to the person or thing used for practice. Warm to has a different meaning: begin to like something.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with warm up?

Use warm up for an event or activity, and warm up with a person, exercise, or song used for practice. Warm to means become more positive toward something. Warm in is not a standard pattern after warm up.

The team warmed up for the match.
She warmed up with a few stretches.
He is slowly warming to the idea.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
warm up for + event

Preparing for an activity or performance

Use for to show the event or activity you are preparing for.

The runners warmed up for the race.
2
warm up with + person or exercise

Using something as practice

Use with for the person, exercise, or material used during preparation.

The choir warmed up with breathing exercises.
3
warm to + idea or person

Beginning to like or accept something

Warm to is a separate expression meaning become more receptive or friendly.

She quickly warmed to her new colleagues.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
warm up for
They warmed up for the presentation.
prepare for an event or activity
warm up with
We warmed up with a short game.
use something during preparation
warm to
He warmed to the proposal after discussion.
gradually begin to like or accept
warm in up
Warm in up is not a standard English construction.
nonstandard combination

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using warm in up

English does not use in after warm in this expression.

✕ The players warmed in up for the game. ✓ The players warmed up for the game.

Confusing warm up for and warm to

These expressions have different meanings.

✕ She warmed to the exam. ✓ She warmed up for the exam.

Using to after warm up for preparation

Warm up to is uncommon for preparation contexts.

✕ They warmed up to the concert. ✓ They warmed up for the concert.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The dancers warmed up ___ the performance.
2. We warmed up ___ a few easy exercises.
3. He slowly warmed ___ the new manager.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is warm up for correct?

Yes. It is the standard way to talk about preparing for an event or activity.

Can I say warm up with?

Yes. Use it for the exercise, person, or activity used during preparation.

What does warm to mean?

It means to gradually become friendlier toward or more accepting of someone or something.

wary of, about or in? weak in, on, at, for or from? wealthy in, of, by, from or with? weary of, from, in, with or about? wedded to, by, for, in or into? weekly for, in, on, with or to? weird for, to, about, in or with? "welcome to" or "welcome in"? "welcoming of" or "welcoming to"? "well-known for" or "well-known in"? well-received by, in, at, among or with? "well-suited to" or "well-suited for"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account