Definitions

heads up

Part of Speech:

All (6) Adjective (4) Noun (1) Verb (1)

Jump To:

alert adj.
on the ball adj.
open-eyed adj.
wide-awake adj.
warning n.
look out v.

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.

See Examples For:

heads up

Jason Heyward didn’t give Freddie Freeman the heads up that he’d secured a job in the Dodgers’ front office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Loomer said she didn’t give anyone a heads up that she would be traveling to Eastern Europe, not even the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

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

Ultimately, they were beaten by the defending champions, but the way they took the game to them was incredible, and the players can hold their heads up high in defeat.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

The cows looked over and their eyes got big and their tails swished and they started to hold their heads up and moo, which means they’re pretty upset.

From "Orbiting Jupiter" by Gary D. Schmidt

heads up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words