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warm-down

American  
[wawrm-doun] / ˈwɔrmˌdaʊn /
Or warmdown

noun

  1. a tapering off or recovery from strenuous physical exercise, especially running or racing, by slowing down or doing light stretches.


verb phrase

  1. to conclude or follow a period of strenuous physical exercise by walking or gentle stretching.

warm-down British  

noun

  1. light exercises performed to aid recovery from strenuous physical activity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of warm-down

First recorded in 1950–55; warm ( def. ) (in the verb sense “to make warm, heat”) + down 1 ( def. ) (in the adverb sense “from a higher to a lower state or condition”); the verb phrase is derived from the noun

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.

See Examples For:

Gabriel trained with United's senior players under Amorim and did the same on Monday, when those who started the draw at Leeds were on a warm-down session.

From BBC Jan. 10, 2026

An unused substitute as Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1, Aubameyang left the Emirates Stadium instead of joining his fellow replacements for a warm-down session on the pitch.

From Washington Times Mar. 17, 2021

“If one of us had a bad swim, we’d cry about it in the warm-down pool,” she said.

From New York Times Feb. 20, 2018

Towards the end of his time at Valencia Feghouli was suspended by the club for repeatedly missing training, and for refusing to take part in a post-match warm-down, claiming he had a sore ankle.

From The Guardian Sep. 9, 2016

MESA, Ariz. — Michael Phelps pulled himself out of the pool for the gazillionth time in his life, collected his clothes and walked from the competition pool to the warm-down area at Skyline Aquatic Center.

From Washington Post Apr. 18, 2015

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