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
Either way, there is no escaping the fact that the world is steadily—and dangerously—heating up.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
Coupled with a strong defensive showing for more than three-quarters of the game, Minnesota heated up enough offensively to tie the game in the fourth quarter before a late Iowa surge resulted in a 68-60 Hawkeyes’ win.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Pizza stones heat up exceptionally well when placed on a grill, just like the brick ovens in professional pizzerias.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars at this week's most major events, including Mel B's red carpet moment in London to the kickoff of New York Fashion Week
Comments
Winter might be in full swing but the fashion events are just heating up.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for heat up 
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
Coupled with a strong defensive showing for more than three-quarters of the game, Minnesota heated up enough offensively to tie the game in the fourth quarter before a late Iowa surge resulted in a 68-60 Hawkeyes’ win.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Pizza stones heat up exceptionally well when placed on a grill, just like the brick ovens in professional pizzerias.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars at this week's most major events, including Mel B's red carpet moment in London to the kickoff of New York Fashion Week
Comments
Winter might be in full swing but the fashion events are just heating up.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for heat up
Dictionary Entries Near heat up
Cite this Entry
“Heat up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20up. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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