Definitions

heads up

ADJECTIVE

alert

Synonyms

STRONGEST

active bright careful intelligent observant perceptive sharp vigilant wary watchful wired wise

STRONG

hip jazzed quick ready spirited

WEAK

all ears cagey circumspect clever fast on the draw good hands heedful on guard on one's toes on the ball on the job on the lookout on the qui vive psyched-up switched on wide-awake with it

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless dull foolish ignorant inattentive incautious indifferent indiscreet lazy negligent stupid thoughtless unaware unintelligent unobservant

STRONG

slow uneducated

WEAK

asleep drowsy lethargic sluggish weary

ADJECTIVE

on the ball

Synonyms

WEAK

active all ears attentive bright cagey careful clever good hands intelligent lively observant on guard on one's toes on the job on the lookout on the stick perceptive quick ready sharp spirited vigilant watchful wise with it

ADJECTIVE

open-eyed

Synonyms

WEAK

active all ears bright cagey careful circumspect clever fast on the draw good hands heedful hip intelligent jazzed observant on guard on one's toes on the ball on the job on the lookout on the qui vive perceptive psyched-up quick ready sharp spirited switched on vigilant wakeful wary watchful wide-awake wired wise with it

ADJECTIVE

wide-awake

Synonyms

WEAK

active alert all ears attentive bright bright-eyed and bushy-tailed fast on the draw intelligent lively on guard on one's toes on the ball on the job on the lookout psyched-up quick ready sharp spirited vigilant watchful wide-eyed wired

NOUN

warning

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admonition advice alarm alert caution example guidance hint indication information lesson notification prediction recommendation sign signal suggestion threat word

STRONG

Mayday SOS augury caveat exhortation fore foretoken forewarning injunction intimation omen portent premonition presage tip tip-off token wink

WEAK

distress signal handwriting on the wall look out watch-it word to the wise

Antonyms

STRONGEST

misinformation

VERB

look out

Synonyms

WEAK

be alert be careful be on guard beware check out have a care hearken keep an eye out keep tabs listen mind notice pay attention peg pick up on scope shotgun size up spot spy watch out

Antonyms

WEAK

disregard ignore neglect

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.

The heads up of a possible U.K. sale of assets would have allowed Epstein to possibly trade on the information.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

It feels a little bit like Skynet giving us a heads up before incinerating the atmosphere, but I’ll take it.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

Walz later said that he issued Minnesota’s National Guard a “warning order,” which he described as “a heads up for folks.”

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

"They are a bit heads down but we have to be heads up because in three days we have a difficult game against Chelsea."

From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026

Then Ma leans on her cane and heads up the block.

From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott

heads up

Example Sentences

Related Words