heads-up

1 of 3

noun

ˈhedz-ˈəp 

: 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

heads-up football

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

Noun

• admonishment
• admonition
• alarm
• alarum
• alert
• caution
• forewarning
• notice
• warning

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

Noun

Cavalcante offers a heads-up, though—the fragrance is quite strong! —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2024

Translation: Just a heads-up that this could happen again sometime in the future. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 28 Oct. 2024

Adjective

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

The heads-up play allowed quarterback Max Duggan an extra second to make the pass to Quentin Johnston, who scored a 76-yard touchdown. —Dallas News, 2 Mar. 2023

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