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
From the ongoing government shutdown to a national redistricting fight dropped on Indiana's proverbial doorstep and a 2026 statewide race already heating up, it's been anything but.
—
Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
The designer shoes’ popularity has been heating up among celebrities as of late, with stars like Sarah Paulson, Ayo Edebiri, Chloë Grace Moretz, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Kim Kardashian, Gabrielle Union and more supporting the brand.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
While most ovens heat up fairly quickly, an extra 10 to 15 minutes in this temperature range can be problematic, especially if the food isn't eventually brought to a safe internal temperature before serving.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
With the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders likely just a few of losses away from being out of playoff contention, trade speculation has heated up around one of the team’s top stars.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heat up
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Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
The designer shoes’ popularity has been heating up among celebrities as of late, with stars like Sarah Paulson, Ayo Edebiri, Chloë Grace Moretz, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Kim Kardashian, Gabrielle Union and more supporting the brand.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
While most ovens heat up fairly quickly, an extra 10 to 15 minutes in this temperature range can be problematic, especially if the food isn't eventually brought to a safe internal temperature before serving.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
With the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders likely just a few of losses away from being out of playoff contention, trade speculation has heated up around one of the team’s top stars.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heat up
Cite this Entry
“Heat up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20up. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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