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
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.
In the late 1940s, Arctic temperatures were warming and the Cold War was heating up. Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025 Obviously, that did not happen, so the tariffs will be reinstated at that higher mark on April 1, leading to Trump’s threat to heat up the simmering trade war. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025 Inflation heated up to 3% last month for the first time since June. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 The good news is, Spanx’s sale section is currently bursting with pieces practically made for long-haul flights and busy travel days, so now is the best time to fill any gaps in your wardrobe before the weather heats up. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heat up

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Cite this Entry

“Heat up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20up. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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