: a message that alerts or prepares : warning
gave him a heads-up that an investigation was pending
: showing or requiring keen awareness and swift action
heads-up football
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
Chuck Johnson
—used as a warning to look out for danger especially overhead or to clear a passageway
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
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Valdez is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, including seven innings of one-run ball in a heads-up loss to Cease.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for heads-up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The outgoing Senate Democratic leader did give a heads-up to Republican Senate President Ben Albritton before announcing his decision.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Valdez is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, including seven innings of one-run ball in a heads-up loss to Cease.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 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
See All Example Sentences for heads-up
Cite this Entry
“Heads-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heads-up. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share