noun
Common
warming
WAW-mihng
Warming (noun) means a gradual increase in temperature. Example: “The warming of the room after we lit the stove was slow but pleasant.”
noun
1
A gradual increase in temperature.
"The warming of the room after we lit the stove was slow but pleasant."
"A gradual warming in spring melts the snow on the hills."
"Scientists have recorded a steady warming of the oceans over recent decades."
How to use warming
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe process of getting warmer, most often heard today in the context of climate change.
Common pairings
global warming
gradual warming
ocean warming
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Word forms
- Plural
- warmings
Fill the gap
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The _____ of the room after we lit the stove was slow but pleasant.
Etymology
From warm plus the -ing suffix.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for warming
See all rhymes for warming →Frequently asked questions
What does “warming” mean?
The word “warming” means a gradual increase in temperature. In plain terms, the process of getting warmer, most often heard today in the context of climate change.
How do you pronounce “warming”?
“Warming” is pronounced WAW-mihng (/ˈwoɹmɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “warming” in a sentence?
Here is “warming” used in a sentence: “Scientists have recorded a steady warming of the oceans over recent decades.”
What part of speech is “warming”?
“Warming” is a noun.
Is “warming” a common word?
“Warming” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between warming and global warming?
Warming is the general term for any gradual increase in temperature, whether of a room, an ocean, or the climate. Global warming refers specifically to the long-term rise in Earth's average temperature. Every instance of global warming is warming, but not all warming is global.
What is the difference between warming and heating?
Both describe a rise in temperature, but warming suggests a gradual or gentle increase, while heating usually implies a stronger or more deliberate application of heat. You would describe a slow warming trend in the climate, but speak of heating a house or heating food.
Does warming always refer to temperature?
Its core meaning is a gradual increase in temperature, but warming is also used figuratively for attitudes or relationships becoming friendlier, as in "a warming of relations between the two countries." Context makes clear whether the increase is literal heat or figurative goodwill.
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