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
As the race to lead the nation in quantum technology heats up, lawmakers and others are vying to make Massachusetts a front-runner.
—
State House News Service, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
If talks heat up, slow the tempo and breathe at home or at work.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
The battle for afternoon consumers has been heating up, with competitors targeting the post-lunch window.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, Casemiro-to-Miami rumors are heating up.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for heat up
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State House News Service, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
If talks heat up, slow the tempo and breathe at home or at work.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
The battle for afternoon consumers has been heating up, with competitors targeting the post-lunch window.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, Casemiro-to-Miami rumors are heating up.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
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 30 May. 2026.
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