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
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.
Kim and her husband faced the heat in 2020 when they were convicted of embezzling some 5 billion won of company funds. Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 My guess is that most of the fight was about something that happened in the heat of the moment. Murat Ates, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 His time in the heat was assisted by a 3.5m/s tailwind, while his final time was aided by a 2.6m/s tailwind. Ben Church, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 Their comfy blend of wool and cotton keeps you warm in cold temperatures while allowing your feet to breathe in the heat, thereby keeping sweat (and blisters) at bay. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the heat

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20heat. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!