Preheating is a term commonly used in cooking that refers to the process of heating up an oven, grill, or other cooking appliance prior to placing food inside. However, there are numerous other words that can be used to convey the same meaning. For example, "warming up," "heating up," "tempering," "conditioning," and "incubating" can all be used synonymously with "preheating." Other words, such as "prepping," "readying," or "preparing," can also convey the idea of getting an appliance ready for cooking. Regardless of the word used, the purpose of preheating is to ensure that food cooks evenly and thoroughly throughout the cooking process.