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
The Algerian defense seemed beaten, broken and demoralized by Messi and his teammates and wilted by the heat in Kansas City.
—
Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
There’s a major difference between Hall and Grella, which is that one was an active athlete speaking in the heat of battle and the other is an ex-player, who’s now a pundit.
—Tom Bogert, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Both brands have design flaws, such as maintaining the heat properly in cooler weather.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
This location in the center of the solar system was warm, so the planetesimals were made mostly of the rocks and metals that could withstand the heat.
—Adam Lark, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the heat
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Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
There’s a major difference between Hall and Grella, which is that one was an active athlete speaking in the heat of battle and the other is an ex-player, who’s now a pundit.
—Tom Bogert, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Both brands have design flaws, such as maintaining the heat properly in cooler weather.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
This location in the center of the solar system was warm, so the planetesimals were made mostly of the rocks and metals that could withstand the heat.
—Adam Lark, The Conversation, 16 June 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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