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
La Marque led 12-11 after one quarter, but Carter turned up the heat by out scoring the Cougars 43-7 in the second and third periods.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
Position a rack 4 to 5 inches from the heat and turn the broiler to high.
—Anna Butler, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Single-digit cold invades North Around the same time as the heat starts blasting Phoenix, the polar vortex — a system that usually keeps frigid air penned up near the North Pole — is forecast to send its chill deep into the Midwest and East, even bordering some of the Southeast, Maue said.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
And as the Lakers turned up the heat, the Bulls melted into it.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the heat
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Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
Position a rack 4 to 5 inches from the heat and turn the broiler to high.
—Anna Butler, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
Single-digit cold invades North Around the same time as the heat starts blasting Phoenix, the polar vortex — a system that usually keeps frigid air penned up near the North Pole — is forecast to send its chill deep into the Midwest and East, even bordering some of the Southeast, Maue said.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
And as the Lakers turned up the heat, the Bulls melted into it.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
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 15 Mar. 2026.
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