warm
wawm
Warm (adj) means having a moderately high, usually pleasant, temperature. Example: “Wrap up in this blanket, it's nice and warm.”
adj
1
Having a moderately high, usually pleasant, temperature.
"Wrap up in this blanket, it's nice and warm."
"The soup was warm enough to eat straight away."
"The sea was surprisingly warm, so we swam for an hour."
2
Friendly, affectionate, or kind in manner.
"She gave us a warm welcome when we arrived."
"He has a warm personality that puts everyone at ease."
"The nurse had a warm smile that made the nervous child relax."
3
Close to finding or guessing something correctly, in a game or search.
""Warmer, warmer... you're getting warm!" the children shouted as she searched for the hidden toy."
""Ooh, you're warm now!" said Mum as I reached for the right box."
"In the treasure hunt, we were warm when we reached the garden."
verb
1
To raise the temperature of something, or to become less cold.
"He warmed his hands by the fire."
"The room slowly warmed once the heating kicked in."
"Please warm the milk in a pan before you pour it."
2
To grow fonder of or more enthusiastic about someone or something over time.
"The audience warmed to the new presenter as the show went on."
"I didn't like the city at first, but I warmed to it quickly."
"The shy boy slowly warmed to his new teacher over the term."
How to use warm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a pleasant, moderate heat, or, of people, being friendly and kind.
Common mistake
"Warm up to someone" (grow to like them) is different from simply being "warm" toward someone (already friendly) — the phrasal verb implies a change over time.
Common pairings
warm welcome
warm weather
warm to an idea
warm smile
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like warm.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- warms
- Third person singular
- warms
- Past tense
- warmed
- Comparative
- warmer
- Superlative
- warmest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wrap up in this blanket, it's nice and _____.
Etymology
From Old English wearm, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "warm," possibly related to an ancient word for "to burn."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for warm
See all rhymes for warm →Frequently asked questions
What does “warm” mean?
The word “warm” means having a moderately high, usually pleasant, temperature. In plain terms, having a pleasant, moderate heat, or, of people, being friendly and kind.
How do you pronounce “warm”?
“Warm” is pronounced wawm (/wɔɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “warm” in a sentence?
Here is “warm” used in a sentence: “Wrap up in this blanket, it's nice and warm.”
What is another word for “warm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “warm” include tepid, mild and balmy.
What is the opposite of “warm”?
The opposite of “warm” — its antonyms — are Arctic, cold, cool and frozen.
What part of speech is “warm”?
Depending on how it is used, “warm” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “warm” come from?
The word “warm” comes from Old English. From Old English wearm, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "warm," possibly related to an ancient word for "to burn.".
Is “warm” a common word?
“Warm” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between warm and hot?
The difference is degree. Warm means a moderately high, comfortable temperature, pleasant to the touch and easy to be around. Hot is more intense, sometimes uncomfortably or dangerously so. Warm bathwater is soothing; hot bathwater can scald. Warm sits between cool and hot on the scale of temperature.
What is the opposite of warm?
For temperature, the opposite of warm is cool or cold, describing a low rather than moderately high temperature. When warm is used of personality, meaning friendly and affectionate, its opposite is cold or distant. So a warm room becomes cold, while a warm welcome becomes a cold, unwelcoming one.
Can warm describe a person or feeling?
Yes. Beyond temperature, warm often describes personality and emotion, meaning friendly, kind, and affectionate. A "warm welcome" is genuinely caring, and a "warm smile" feels sincere. The idea borrows from physical warmth, comfortable and inviting, to describe people who make others feel at ease and valued.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include warm:
