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
Make sure to harvest dill in the morning after any dew has dried and before the heat of the day kicks in.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
The Brickell Run Club can attest to the heat island effect.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
If not, do not place the item in the dryer, as the heat can set the stain.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
The system also comes with molten salt thermal storage, which stores the heat from the reactor in tanks.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the heat
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Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
The Brickell Run Club can attest to the heat island effect.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
If not, do not place the item in the dryer, as the heat can set the stain.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
The system also comes with molten salt thermal storage, which stores the heat from the reactor in tanks.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the heat
Cite this Entry
“The heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20heat. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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