heads up
interjection
(used to call attention to an impending danger or the need for immediate alertness.)
heads up
1 Americaninterjection
heads-up
2
American
[hedz-uhp]
/ ˈhɛdzˌʌp /
adjective
noun
-
heads-ups
plural
heads up
British
noun
heads up
Idioms
Usage
What does heads-up mean? As an exclamation, Heads up! is used to call attention to danger or another important matter. As a basic noun, a heads-up is an advance notice or warning.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of heads up1
First recorded in 1940–45
Origin of heads-up2
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Inflation watchers in the private sector said the BEA move was justified, but they faulted the agency for not giving the public a heads up, even for such a nerdy statistical thing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
"These are not just gentlemen thieves, confidently swindling us of a few pennies here and there," says Craig Rice, who heads up the CDA.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
A family of Latter-Day Saints heads up Angel Studios, and a fair share of its titles across both television and film spaces are right-leaning media with Christian values.
From Salon ● May 3, 2026
Meetings could get heated as colleagues debated the way forward, said Angela Johnston, who heads up product development globally for Huggies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
They walked in step, heads up and shoulders back, like some kind of action-movie heroes.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
You know her temperament better than I do, and if she is a reasonable and levelheaded person, it would do no harm to give her a heads-up.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
A heads-up, though: Analysts have also steadily slashed their forecasts as the company’s financial situation has deteriorated.
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
The Italians, undeterred by anything Ireland threw at them, continued to stretch the home defence with rapid, heads-up rugby.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
Agents have set off tear gas canisters without giving a heads-up to Chicago police.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2025
You'd think that deserved a litde heads-up phone call or something.
From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan
Unambiguous heads-ups from forecasters from the NWS to state and local transportation officials in Northern Virginia began on the morning of Jan. 2, nearly 24 hours before the storm hit.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 14, 2022
He was exceptionally close with Engel, who gave Zuberi early heads-ups on legislation he intended to file and shared other details that could be useful to Zuberi, the emails show.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2020
I’ve given subtle heads-ups to my male co-workers for things like unzipped zippers but don’t want to be seen as policing a woman’s appearance.
From Slate ● May 17, 2018
It was the first time Scioscia had a position player throw in the bullpen, though he added, “We’ve given heads-ups to guys before.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
