adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌhɛdzˈʌp/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:HH EH1 D Z AH2 P
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
With head directly above the neck, eyes front.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
A heads-up posture meant the pilot couldn't pay attention to his instruments.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Alert; vigilant
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Getting those marbles off the red carpet was a real heads-up move.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A warning or call to pay attention; an advisory notice; a notice of what is to happen; a holler.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, idiomatic
Examples
Send everyone a heads-up about the inspection tomorrow.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Involving two players. (usually said when there are only two players in the table; or, when all players except two folded)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: card-games, poker
Examples
There were only two of us, so we started playing heads-up.
There are seven players on the table. Five folded, the remaining two played heads-up until the showdown.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
fully alert and watchful
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
played heads-up ball
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wide-awake
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a warning message
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he sent a heads-up to the District Attorney
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: warning
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
33 source translations are retained for this English entry.
German:
aufrecht
— with head directly above the neck, eyes front
German:
Kopf im Nacken und Augen geradeaus
— with head directly above the neck, eyes front
Polish:
z wyprostowaną głową
— with head directly above the neck, eyes front
German:
wachsam
— alert; vigilant
German:
hellwach
— alert; vigilant
German:
aufmerksam
— alert; vigilant
German:
alert
— alert; vigilant
German:
aufgeweckt
— alert; vigilant
German:
flink
— alert; vigilant
German:
vorausschauend
— alert; vigilant
Polish:
uważny
— alert; vigilant
Polish:
czujny
— alert; vigilant
Danish:
advarsel
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Danish:
forvarsel
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Danish:
forhåndsadvarsel
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Finnish:
varoitus
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
French:
rappel
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
French:
alerte
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
French:
avertissement
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Galician:
aviso
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
German:
Aufgepasst!
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
German:
Achtung!
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
German:
Vorwarnung
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
German:
Bescheid
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
German:
Hinweis
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Hungarian:
figyelmeztetés
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Norwegian Bokmål:
forvarsel
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Polish:
uwaga
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Polish:
ostrzeżenie
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Russian:
предупреждение
(predupreždenije)
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Spanish:
aldabonazo
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Spanish:
aldabada
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
Spanish:
animadvertencia (desus.)
— warning or call to pay attention; (advisory) notice of what is to happen
