heads-up

1 of 3

noun

ˈhedz-ˈəp 

: a message that alerts or prepares : warning

gave him a heads-up that an investigation was pending

heads-up

2 of 3

adjective

: showing or requiring keen awareness and swift action

a heads-up player

Alex Rodriguez's heads-up play helped give Seattle the upper hand in a 3-2 victory Saturday against Baltimore.

—Chuck Johnson

heads up

3 of 3

interjection

—used as a warning to look out for danger especially overhead or to clear a passageway

Synonyms of heads-up

Noun

• warning

Examples of heads-up in a Sentence

Noun

thanks for the heads-up about the upcoming visit from the corporate big shots

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Our test model featured a heads-up display that projects information like navigation directions and more. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

The California Department of Social Services is texting CalFresh recipients with a heads-up about the possible delay, said a spokesperson for Santa Clara County Executive James Williams. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Just a heads-up - Midjourney's AI can now do hands correctly. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 16 Mar. 2023

Or [expect that employees will] give me a heads-up. —Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 8 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1913, in the meaning defined above

Interjection

1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heads-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup