lukewarm

[look-wawrm]

adjective

1. moderately warm; tepid.

2. having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent.

   lukewarm applause.

   Synonyms: apathetic, cool, halfhearted

lukewarm

/ ˌluːkˈwɔːm /

adjective

1. (esp of water) moderately warm; tepid

2. having or expressing little enthusiasm or conviction

Other Word Forms

• lukewarmly adverb
• lukewarmness noun
• lukewarmth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lukewarm¹

1350–1400; Middle English lukewarme tepid, equivalent to luke tepid (unexplained alteration of lew, Old English gehlēow tepid) + warme warm

Word History and Origins

Origin of lukewarm¹

C14 luke probably from Old English hlēow warm; compare German lauwarm

Example Sentences

Between the lukewarm financial results and the turnaround efforts touted by executives, the report seemed to have enough to bolster both the bull and the bear case, wrote Christopher Horvers, an analyst at J.P.

Read more on Barron's

Nvidia’s stock performance after recent earnings reports was lukewarm at best, with declines following three of the four announcements.

Read more on Barron's

But when a delivery service is carting cash around town instead of a lukewarm burrito, the stakes and security concerns, obviously, are higher.

Read more on MarketWatch

Despite the lukewarm market signals, the U.S. government seems intent on backstopping American AI no matter what.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The lukewarm reception for the Air is the only blemish on what is shaping up to be a blowout holiday quarter for Apple, thanks to more popular iPhone 17 models.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apathetic 
• chilly 
• halfhearted 
• hesitant 
• indecisive 
• tepid 
• uncertain 
• uncommitted