warm

[ wawrm ]

/ wɔrm /

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See synonyms for: warm / warmer / warmest / warming on Thesaurus.com

adjective, warm·er, warm·est.

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

of or at a moderately high temperature; characterized by comparatively high temperature: a warm oven; a warm climate; a warm summer.

having a sensation of bodily heat: to be warm from fast walking.

conserving or maintaining warmth or heat: warm clothes.

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

characterized by or showing lively feelings, passions, emotions, sympathies, etc.: a warm heart; warm interest.

strongly attached; intimate: warm friends.

cordial or hearty: a warm welcome.

heated, irritated, or angry: to become warm when contradicted.

animated, lively, brisk, or vigorous: a warm debate.

strong or fresh: a warm scent.

close to something sought, as in a game.

uncomfortable or unpleasant: His opponents made things so warm that he decided to quit.

British Informal. well off; in easy circumstances.

verb (used with object)

to make warm; heat (often followed by up): to warm one's hands; to warm up a room.

to heat or cook (something) for reuse, as leftovers (usually followed by over or up): to warm up yesterday's stew.

to excite enthusiasm, ardor, cheerfulness, or vitality in (someone): The wine soon warmed the company.

to inspire with kindly feeling; affect with lively pleasure: It warms my soul to hear you say that.

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)

to become warm or warmer (often followed by up): The room will warm up when the fire gets going.

to become ardent, enthusiastic, animated, etc. (often followed by up or to): The speaker quickly warmed to her subject.

to grow kindly, friendly, or sympathetically disposed (often followed by to or toward): My heart warms toward him.

noun

Informal. a warming: Sit by the fire and have a nice warm.

Verb Phrases

warm down. See entry at warm-down.

warm up. See entry at warmup.

OTHER WORDS FOR warm

1 lukewarm, tepid, heated.

6 hearty, enthusiastic, fervent, fervid, emotional, ardent.

7 friendly, close.

8 fervent.

9 annoyed, vexed, irate, furious.

10 vehement.

17 animate, excite, waken, stir, rouse, arouse.

See synonyms for warm on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR warm

1-3 cool.

8 unfriendly, aloof.

10 lethargic, boring.

See antonyms for warm on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about warm

warm the bench, Sports. to serve as a substitute who rarely plays in a game: The young outfielder warmed the bench for the Yankees last season.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM warm

warm·er, nounwarm·ish, adjectivewarm·ly, adverbwarm·ness, noun

o·ver·warmed, adjectivepre·warm, verb (used with object)re·warm, verbun·warmed, adjectiveun·warm·ing, adjectivewell-warmed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use warm in a sentence

Both the Republicans in Congress and the American-Cuban community in exile have been speaking out against the warming relations.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yellowstone grizzly bears face the two greatest threats to their survival in our lifetime: global warming and the U.S. government.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, always, global warming could push the cutworm moths north, out of the park, by heating up the region.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Warming to his theme, Argiros adds, “All human life passes through here- the good bad and the ugly.”
Inside New York’s Most Powerful Diner|Tom Teodorczuk|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He echoed Dick Cheney about global warming and said, “We should be concentrating on ISIS.”
Bill Maher: Yes, I Can Generalize About Muslims|Marlow Stern|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beds, in those days, were warmed with copper warming pans, and nightcaps adorned the slumbering heads of both sexes.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The warming machines will take a very extensive run, and I believe will pay exceedingly well.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
But now that he stood there with his back to the fire, warming his hands, he made himself more clear.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Just a few nights ago, we sat smoking in the evening, warming our hearts at the great hearth-stone.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
In 1838 he attended the house-warming of Heloise Brisetout in rue Chauchat.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe

British Dictionary definitions for warm

warm

/ (wɔːm) /

adjective

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

maintaining or imparting heata warm coat

having or showing ready affection, kindliness, etca warm personality

lively, vigorous, or passionatea warm debate

cordial or enthusiastic; ardentwarm support

quickly or easily arouseda warm temper

(of colours) predominantly red or yellow in tone

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

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

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

verb

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

(when intr, often foll by to) to make or become excited, enthusiastic, etc (about)he warmed to the idea of buying a new car

(intr often foll by to) to feel affection, kindness, etc (for someone)I warmed to her mother from the start

(tr) British to give a caning toI'll warm you in a minute

noun

informal a warm place or areacome into the warm

informal the act or an instance of warming or being warmed

Derived forms of warm

warmer, nounwarmish, adjectivewarmly, adverbwarmness, noun

Word Origin for warm

Old English wearm; related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon warm, Old Norse varmr

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with warm

warm

In addition to the idioms beginning with warm

warm as toast
warm heart
warm the bench
warm the cockles of one's heart
warm up
warm welcome

also see:

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

warm

OTHER WORDS FOR warm

OPPOSITES FOR warm

Idioms about warm

Origin of warm

OTHER WORDS FROM warm

Words related to warm

How to use warm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for warm

Derived forms of warm

Word Origin for warm

Other Idioms and Phrases with warm