heads-up

1 of 3

noun

: 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
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

heads up

3 of 3

interjection

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
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Noun
The broadcast will also feature a heads-up display offering real-time data from the car cockpit, as seen on Formula One broadcasts. Nicole Kraft, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 Tough play and credit to them for a good heads-up baserunning play. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of heads-up was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heads-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heads-up. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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