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
Water fills air pockets in soil, holding the heat that has been absorbed during the day and releasing it at night.
—
Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
Some Cambridge Housing Authority residents are stuck in sweltering temperatures with no air conditioning during the heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.
—Kristina Rex, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Not so with this crunchy, tangy dish, which employs two colors of cabbage and the heat and smoke of a grill to give the leaves an irresistible char.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
There are several options for fans looking to escape the heat, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, Center for Human and Civil Rights, the King Center and High Museum of Art.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the heat
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Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
Some Cambridge Housing Authority residents are stuck in sweltering temperatures with no air conditioning during the heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.
—Kristina Rex, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Not so with this crunchy, tangy dish, which employs two colors of cabbage and the heat and smoke of a grill to give the leaves an irresistible char.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
There are several options for fans looking to escape the heat, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, Center for Human and Civil Rights, the King Center and High Museum of Art.
—ABC News, 19 May 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 21 May. 2026.
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