warming

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The process of becoming warmer, especially the gradual rise in the earth's average temperature.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often used after 'global' or 'the'. It takes a singular verb: warming is happening.

   Patterns

   • global warming
   • the warming of something
   • warming continues

   Scientists have tracked the warming of the oceans over several decades.

   Global warming is already affecting rainfall patterns in many regions.

   The warming of the room made everyone sleepy.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Making someone feel pleasantly comforted, reassured, or emotionally touched.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun: a warming smile, a warming welcome. It describes the effect on people.

   Patterns

   • a warming smile
   • a warming welcome
   • warming words

   She gave us a warming smile as we came in from the cold.

   His warming words helped the new students feel at home.

Common combinations

global warming

Global warming is causing glaciers to shrink.

warming trend

Meteorologists noted a warming trend in the region.

warming effect

The gas has a strong warming effect on the atmosphere.

a warming welcome

The hosts gave the visitors a warming welcome.

Synonyms and how they differ

heating

Heating refers to making something hot on purpose, often with a device, while warming is the gentler process of becoming or making slightly warm.

thawing

Thawing means frozen things turning back to liquid, a narrower process than general warming.

Opposites

Word family

warm adjective

Having a fairly high temperature, or friendly and kind.

warmth noun

The state of being warm, or a friendly feeling.

warmly adverb

In a friendly or warm way.

Commonly confused: warming or warning?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “warming”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words