1 A2 neutral
To make food or a substance hotter, or for something to become physically hotter.
"Can you heat up the leftover soup while I set the table?"
separable
heat up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To make something hotter, or to become hotter; also used figuratively when a situation becomes more intense or tense.
In plain English
To make something hot, or for something to get hot; or for a situation to get more exciting or tense.
What does "heat up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
(figurative) For a situation, competition, or conflict to become more intense, exciting, or aggressive.
"The political debate is really heating up ahead of next month's election."
inseparable
3 A2 neutral
(of weather or a place) To become hot or warmer.
"The desert heats up very quickly once the sun is fully out."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To increase heat upward (raise temperature).
Actually means
To make something hot, or for something to get hot; or for a situation to get more exciting or tense.
Usage tip
Extremely versatile. Used literally for food, rooms, and weather, and figuratively for arguments, political situations, competitions, and relationships. In the figurative sense it is always intransitive ('things are heating up'). In the literal sense it can be both transitive ('heat up the soup') and intransitive ('the oven is heating up').
Words that pair with "heat up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
soup oven debate competition economy things
How to conjugate "heat up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
heat up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
heats up
he/she/it
Past simple
heated up
yesterday
Past participle
heated up
have + pp
-ing form
heating up
continuous
Hear "heat up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "heat up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.