heat up

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

The competition heats up as players are eliminated, and an invisible, ominous host narrates the proceedings. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

In the sneak peek, the islanders address the major drama that happened in the Fijian villa over the summer, and things seem to be heating up. — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Continue reading … -- POLITICS 'BAD LOOK' – Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up. — FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Gay’s experience, and playmaking prowess should keep him safe, but Miami’s scouting department might opt to go with Woodard, who has been heating up as of late. — Omar Kelly august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for heat up

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