heat up
phrasal 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
The realm of what some refer to as Physical AI is heating up because more and more AI, such as generative AI is being linked with robots and other devices that operate in the physical world.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Research by Stanford University scientists has shown that economic productivity accelerates as temperatures rise in cooler climates and slows as hotter climates heat up.
—Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
The state playoffs get underway with Southern California regional action this week as the competition heats up trying to reach Sacramento for the state championships March 14 and 15 at Golden 1 Center.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The consolidation planning for 450 Columbus also is unfolding as the debate over the return to office for state workers is heating up.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heat up
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Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Research by Stanford University scientists has shown that economic productivity accelerates as temperatures rise in cooler climates and slows as hotter climates heat up.
—Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
The state playoffs get underway with Southern California regional action this week as the competition heats up trying to reach Sacramento for the state championships March 14 and 15 at Golden 1 Center.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The consolidation planning for 450 Columbus also is unfolding as the debate over the return to office for state workers is heating up.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
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 10 Mar. 2025.
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