US, informal
—used to tell someone to look up because of possible danger
He shouted "Heads up!" as he threw the ball.
US, informal
: a message that tells or warns someone about something that is going to happen
She gave him a heads-up that the company's president will be visiting the office.
always used before a noun
US, informal
: showing that you are very aware of what is happening around you : alert
a heads-up play by the first baseman
Cite this Entry
“Heads up.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/heads%20up. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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