heat up

IPA/hˈiːt ˈʌp/
IPA/hˈiːt ˈʌp/

heat up — phrasal verb

  • heat upbase form
  • heats up3rd person singular
  • heating up-ing form
  • heated uppast simple

1. to make food or drink that has already been cooked or prepared hot again, usuall

1.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to make food or drink that has already been cooked or prepared hot again, usually in a microwave, oven, or on a stove.

例句

Allison heated up the leftover pizza in the microwave for a quick dinner.

object is leftover/pre-cooked food

Could you heat up some soup for me while I take a shower?

separable: heat + noun + up

同義詞
  • reheat

    more formal; 'heat up' is more common in everyday spoken English

  • warm up

    gentler, used for food that only needs slight warming rather than full cooking

反義詞
  • cool down

    the opposite action of lowering temperature

文法句型

heat + noun + up

heat up + noun

常見錯誤

I heated up.' (without object, meaning food).
I heated up the leftovers.
💡when used transitively, this sense needs an object (the food or drink being reheated).

2. for an object, liquid, surface, or enclosed space to become hot or warm, either

2.片語動詞不及物B1
釋義

for an object, liquid, surface, or enclosed space to become hot or warm, either naturally or because of an external source of heat.

例句

Alessia waited for the oil to heat up before adding the vegetables to the pan.

subject is a substance (oil)

The engine started to heat up after the truck climbed the steep mountain road.

同義詞
  • get hot

    more informal; 'heat up' focuses on the process, while 'get hot' states the result

  • warm up

    suggests a gentler or slower increase in temperature

反義詞

文法句型

subject + heat up

常見錯誤

I heated up the oil' (when meaning the oil got hot by itself).
The oil heated up on the stove.
💡use intransitive (no object) when describing the thing becoming hot. If you add an object, it changes to 'make hot' instead.

3. for a situation, discussion, competition, or activity to become more intense, ex

3.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

for a situation, discussion, competition, or activity to become more intense, exciting, or active, often with strong emotions or high stakes.

例句

The election campaign really heated up after the two candidates held a televised debate.

subject is a competition or campaign

Rohan and his brother's argument about money heated up until their mother stepped in.

同義詞
  • intensify

    more formal; used in writing and news reporting

  • escalate

    suggests the situation is becoming more serious or dangerous

  • hotten up

    informal, especially British English

反義詞
  • cool down

    figurative use meaning emotions or activity become calmer

  • ease off

    suggests the intensity decreases gradually

文法句型

subject + heat up

常見錯誤

The weather heated up' (when meaning the temperature rose).
The weather got hotter.
💡for literal temperature increase on a large scale (weather, climate), use 'get hotter' or 'warm up' instead of 'heat up', which sounds unnatural.

4. to raise the temperature of a room, object, or substance by applying a source of

4.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to raise the temperature of a room, object, or substance by applying a source of heat — for purposes other than cooking or reheating food.

例句

Before the guests arrived, Jude heated up the living room by lighting a fire.

object is a room or space

The technician heated the chemical solution up to eighty degrees for the experiment.

object is a substance in a technical context

同義詞
  • warm up

    softer; suggests gradual or gentle heating

  • heat

    without 'up', slightly more formal; 'heat up' emphasises the process or bringing to a desired temperature

反義詞
  • cool down

    the opposite action of lowering the temperature of something

文法句型

heat + noun + up

heat up + noun

常見錯誤

She heated up the room' (if meaning she made the atmosphere more exciting).
She heated up the room' (only works for literal temperature). For an exciting atmosphere, say 'she livened up the room.