heat up
phrasal verb
heated up; heating up; heats up
1
: to become warm or hot
The morning started out cold but it heated up quickly.
2
: to become more active, intense, or angry
Their conversation started to heat up.
Competition between the two companies is heating up.
3
heat (something) up
or heat up (something)
: to cause (something) to become warm or hot
Could you heat up the vegetables, please?
Examples of heat up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While solar geoengineering discussions continue to heat up, current solar radiation modification efforts are still at a very small scale compared to what would be needed to make a significant impact on Earth's radiation balance and actually cool global temperatures.
—
Stephanie Ebbs, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
But things heat up when best friends Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor) become enamored with her, forming a scandalous love triangle that plays out over many years with secrets, betrayals, and most of all, intense tennis matches.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2024
The White House has been stepping up its efforts to protect workers as the presidential campaign heats up.
—Christopher Rugaber, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Europe is heating up twice as quickly as the global average, and that heat is killing large numbers of people in the summer months, according to a new report by European climate experts.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
The asphalt lots heated up in the summer, tents could become frigid in the winter and heavy rains have triggered three evacuations from the first area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
This one is made from stainless steel and can heat up in as little as 18 minutes.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
Also heating up is Chasing Red, a romance being produced by Stampede Ventures.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
Both of Estrada’s homers were no-doubters to left field, and the second baseman appears to be heating up.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Ebbs, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
But things heat up when best friends Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor) become enamored with her, forming a scandalous love triangle that plays out over many years with secrets, betrayals, and most of all, intense tennis matches.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2024
The White House has been stepping up its efforts to protect workers as the presidential campaign heats up.
—Christopher Rugaber, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Europe is heating up twice as quickly as the global average, and that heat is killing large numbers of people in the summer months, according to a new report by European climate experts.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
The asphalt lots heated up in the summer, tents could become frigid in the winter and heavy rains have triggered three evacuations from the first area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
This one is made from stainless steel and can heat up in as little as 18 minutes.
—Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024
Also heating up is Chasing Red, a romance being produced by Stampede Ventures.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
Both of Estrada’s homers were no-doubters to left field, and the second baseman appears to be heating up.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heat up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heat up
Cite this Entry
“Heat up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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