the heat

noun

: pressure to do something
The administration is putting the heat on legislators to approve the tax bill.
She's at her best when the heat is on with tight deadlines.
The company has turned up the heat on its employees to finish the job quickly.

Note: The expression if you can't stand/take the heat, get out of the kitchen means that you should not try to do a difficult job if you cannot deal with the pressure and problems that are part of the job.

Examples of the heat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This plant blooms for weeks and weeks, even in the heat of summer. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 July 2025 Featuring a brutal assassin and a magical healer forced to work together while trying — desperately — not to fall in love, the heat of this romantasy novel is perfect for warm summer nights. Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 Their long hair and often thick double coats serve as insulation and actually protects them from the heat in the summer as well as the cold in the winter. Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 6 July 2025 With the cloud cover, though, highs will be in the upper 80s, although humidity will bring the heat indices into the mid to upper 90s. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for the heat

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Cite this Entry

“The heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20heat. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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