heat up
verb
heated up; heating up; heats up
1
: to become warm or hot
The morning started out cold but it heated up quickly.
2
: to become more active, intense, or angry
Their conversation started to heat up.
Competition between the two companies is heating up.
3
heat (something) up
or heat up (something)
: to cause (something) to become warm or hot
Could you heat up the vegetables, please?
Examples of heat up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Although in the meantime, everything from your creativity to your love life is suddenly heating up, setting the stage for moments of joy and inspiration.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Brown began to heat up in the second, scoring 10 points in a six-minute span.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Collegiate sports reform is heating up with summer approaching.
—Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
Downstairs, meanwhile, the finished basement could become a rec room, billiards room, or fitness center, with a large brick fireplace heating up the space.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heat up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Brown began to heat up in the second, scoring 10 points in a six-minute span.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Collegiate sports reform is heating up with summer approaching.
—Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
Downstairs, meanwhile, the finished basement could become a rec room, billiards room, or fitness center, with a large brick fireplace heating up the space.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heat up
Cite this Entry
“Heat up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20up. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
