heads-up

1 of 3

noun

ˈhedz-ˈəp How to pronounce heads-up (audio)
Synonyms of heads-upnext
: a message that alerts or prepares : warning
gave him a heads-up that an investigation was pending

heads-up

2 of 3

adjective

: showing or requiring keen awareness and swift action
a heads-up player
Alex Rodriguez's heads-up play helped give Seattle the upper hand in a 3-2 victory Saturday against Baltimore.—Chuck Johnson

heads up

3 of 3

interjection

—used as a warning to look out for danger especially overhead or to clear a passageway

Synonyms of heads-up

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Noun

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Examples of heads-up in a Sentence

Noun thanks for the heads-up about the upcoming visit from the corporate big shots
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
No need to make this overly dramatic, but a quick heads-up before the event can go a long way. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 4 June 2026 No heads-up, no explanation (at least none that was made public by either party). — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Adjective
Talk to your neighbors before the birds arrive, because a heads-up and an offer of fresh eggs goes a long way. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 With Spalding still trailing by two with one minute left, Lamothe helped make the difference with a heads-up play. — Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for heads-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1913, in the meaning defined above

Interjection

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heads-up was in 1913

Rhymes for heads-up

See All Rhymes for heads-up

Browse Nearby Words

headstrongness
heads-up
heads up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heads-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heads-up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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