lukewarm
Americanadjective
-
moderately warm; tepid.
-
having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent.
lukewarm applause.
- Synonyms:
- apathetic, cool, halfhearted
adjective
-
(esp of water) moderately warm; tepid
-
having or expressing little enthusiasm or conviction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lukewarm
1350–1400; Middle English lukewarme tepid, equivalent to luke tepid (unexplained alteration of lew, Old English gehlēow tepid) + warme warm
Explanation
Something lukewarm is just a teeny bit warm. Lukewarm feelings are also not very strong. Lukewarm is a word for things that are warm, but only barely. A forgotten cup of hot coffee will get lukewarm before it eventually gets cold. It's disappointing when food at a restaurant is served lukewarm; most people like their food hot. Also, people can have lukewarm feelings and reactions. If someone asks you out to lunch and you say, "Well, I guess that would be OK," that's a lukewarm response.
Vocabulary lists containing lukewarm
Ungifted
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Prisoner B-3087
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Gregor the Overlander
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If Darline Graham hopes to avoid similar missteps, lukewarm Fox interviews may be the right approach after all.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Occupancy-rate increases were lukewarm during the group stage, but accelerated in the round of 32 and again during the round of 16.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Germs that cause food poisoning can grow quickly in lukewarm food.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Despite a thriving data center business, Innio’s stock faces lukewarm analyst ratings due to its premium valuation.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
When we reach the house my mother peels off my soggy half-frozen clothes and puts me into a lukewarm bath.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
