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
Foodie tours and cocktail crawls are increasingly popular ways to experience the city, and they’re best saved for sunset to escape the heat of summertime.
—
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Gates, 66, collapsed that day while delivering mail on his Lakewood route in Dallas as the heat index hit 113 degrees.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
An on-site manager says the heat should be restored by Friday night.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the heat
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Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Gates, 66, collapsed that day while delivering mail on his Lakewood route in Dallas as the heat index hit 113 degrees.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
An on-site manager says the heat should be restored by Friday night.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 2 Jan. 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 6 Jan. 2026.
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