warm

American  

[wawrm] / wɔrm /

adjective

warmer, warmest

1. having or giving out a moderate degree of heat, as perceived by the senses.

   a warm bath.

   Synonyms:

   heated, tepid, lukewarm

   Antonyms:

   cool, cool

2. of or at a moderately high temperature; characterized by comparatively high temperature.

   a warm oven; a warm climate; a warm summer.

   Antonyms:

   cool, cool

3. having a sensation of bodily heat.

   to be warm from fast walking.

   Antonyms:

   cool, cool

4. conserving or maintaining warmth or heat.

   warm clothes.

5. (of colors) suggestive of warmth; inclining toward red or orange rather than toward green or blue.

6. characterized by or showing lively feelings, passions, emotions, sympathies, etc..

   a warm heart; warm interest.

   Synonyms:

   ardent, emotional, fervid, fervent, enthusiastic, hearty

7. strongly attached; intimate.

   warm friends.

   Synonyms:

   close, friendly

8. cordial or hearty.

   a warm welcome.

   Synonyms:

   fervent

   Antonyms:

   aloof, unfriendly

9. heated, irritated, or angry.

   to become warm when contradicted.

   Synonyms:

   furious, irate, vexed, annoyed

10. animated, lively, brisk, or vigorous.

    a warm debate.

    Synonyms:

    vehement

    Antonyms:

    boring, lethargic

11. strong or fresh.

    a warm scent.

12. close to something sought, as in a game.

13. uncomfortable or unpleasant.

    His opponents made things so warm that he decided to quit.

14. British Informal. well off; in easy circumstances.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make warm; heat (often followed byup ).

   to warm one's hands; to warm up a room.

2. to heat or cook (something) for reuse, as leftovers (usually followed by over orup ).

   to warm up yesterday's stew.

3. to excite enthusiasm, ardor, cheerfulness, or vitality in (someone).

   The wine soon warmed the company.

   Synonyms:

   arouse, rouse, stir, waken, excite, animate

4. to inspire with kindly feeling; affect with lively pleasure.

   It warms my soul to hear you say that.

5. to fill (a person, crowd, etc.) with strong feelings, as hatred, anger, or zeal.

   Restrictions had warmed the crew to the point of mutiny.

verb (used without object)

1. to become warm or warmer (often followed byup ).

   The room will warm up when the fire gets going.

2. to become ardent, enthusiastic, animated, etc. (often followed by up orto ).

   The speaker quickly warmed to her subject.

3. to grow kindly, friendly, or sympathetically disposed (often followed by to ortoward ).

   My heart warms toward him.

noun

1. Informal. a warming.

   Sit by the fire and have a nice warm.

verb phrase

1. warm down. warm-down.

2. warm up. warmup.

idioms

1. warm the bench, to serve as a substitute who rarely plays in a game.

   The young outfielder warmed the bench for the Yankees last season.

warm British  

/ wɔːm /

adjective

1. characterized by or having a moderate degree of heat; moderately hot

2. maintaining or imparting heat

   a warm coat

3. having or showing ready affection, kindliness, etc

   a warm personality

4. lively, vigorous, or passionate

   a warm debate

5. cordial or enthusiastic; ardent

   warm support

6. quickly or easily aroused

   a warm temper

7. (of colours) predominantly red or yellow in tone

8. (of a scent, trail, etc) recently made; strong

9. near to finding a hidden object or discovering or guessing facts, as in children's games

10. informal uncomfortable or disagreeable, esp because of the proximity of danger

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verb

1. (sometimes foll by up) to raise or be raised in temperature; make or become warm or warmer

2. to make or become excited, enthusiastic, etc (about)

   he warmed to the idea of buying a new car

3. to feel affection, kindness, etc (for someone)

   I warmed to her mother from the start

4. (tr) to give a caning to

   I'll warm you in a minute

noun

1. informal a warm place or area

   come into the warm

2. informal the act or an instance of warming or being warmed

warm More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing warm

• cold hands, warm heart
• look like death (warmed over)

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Other Word Forms

• overwarmed adjective
• prewarm verb (used with object)
• rewarm verb
• unwarmed adjective
• unwarming adjective
• warmer noun
• warmish adjective
• warmly adverb
• warmness noun
• well-warmed adjective

Etymology

Origin of warm

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective werm, warm, wearm(e), Old English wearm; cognate with German warm, Old Norse varmr; akin to Latin formus “warm,” Greek thermós “warm,” Sanskrit gharmá- “heat,” Avestan garəma “hot,” Old Prussian gorme “heat,” Armenian ǰerm “warm”; the verb is akin to the adjective; the noun is derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

For Foster, it’s an assurance against opening day and temps in October and November that might be too warm for both natural snow and snowmaking.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

There is some uncertainty about how warm it might get.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

The warm weather and cloudless skies set the stage for a test of surgical precision in the final two rounds.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Among those two shots off the lead is 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, who said the warm and dry conditions figure to make a difficult course even more challenging.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

I was warm where I was, and certainly did not want to go out there into the cold again.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• affectionate
• cheerful
• cordial
• gracious
• happy
• heartfelt
• hearty
• hospitable
• loving
• pleasant
• sincere
• tender
• warmhearted