How do you use "Heatwave" in a sentence?

We're having a heatwave. In the middle of a heatwave. The heatwave continues. Heatwave expected.

Heatwave

Q: What does "Heatwave" mean?

A period of unusually hot weather A heatwave is more than just a hot day—it's an extended period of unusually high temperatures that becomes a news event. In Britain, this might mean several days above 25°C; elsewhere, the threshold is higher. Heatwaves trigger health warnings, hosepipe bans, and news coverage of melting tarmac. The word carries a sense of extremity and endurance: you're not just dealing with one hot day but a sustained assault of heat.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: A period of unusually hot weather

异常炎热天气持续的时期，热浪

Un período de tiempo inusualmente caluroso, ola de calor

異常に暑い天気が続く期間、熱波

이례적으로 더운 날씨가 지속되는 기간, 폭염

A heatwave is more than just a hot day—it's an extended period of unusually high temperatures that becomes a news event. In Britain, this might mean several days above 25°C; elsewhere, the threshold is higher. Heatwaves trigger health warnings, hosepipe bans, and news coverage of melting tarmac. The word carries a sense of extremity and endurance: you're not just dealing with one hot day but a sustained assault of heat.

热浪不仅仅是一个炎热的日子——它是异常高温持续一段时间的天气事件，会成为新闻。在英国，这可能意味着连续几天超过25°C；在其他地方，标准更高。热浪会触发健康警告、禁止使用花园水管令，以及关于柏油路面融化的新闻报道。这个词带有极端和忍耐的意味：你不是在应对一天的炎热，而是持续的高温侵袭。

Una ola de calor es más que un día caluroso—es un período prolongado de temperaturas inusualmente altas que se convierte en noticia. En Gran Bretaña, esto podría significar varios días por encima de 25°C; en otros lugares, el umbral es más alto. Las olas de calor desencadenan alertas sanitarias, prohibiciones de riego y cobertura mediática sobre asfalto derretido. La palabra transmite un sentido de extremismo y resistencia: no estás lidiando con un solo día caluroso sino con un asalto sostenido de calor.

熱波は単なる暑い日ではありません。異常に高い気温が続く期間で、ニュースになるような出来事です。イギリスでは25度以上が数日続くことを意味するかもしれませんが、他の場所ではもっと高い基準です。熱波は健康警報、散水禁止令、アスファルトが溶けるニュース報道を引き起こします。この言葉には極端さと耐久の意味があります。一日の暑さではなく、持続的な暑さの猛威に対処しているのです。

폭염은 단순히 더운 하루가 아니라, 이례적으로 높은 기온이 장기간 지속되어 뉴스거리가 되는 현상입니다. 영국에서는 25°C 이상이 며칠 계속되면 폭염일 수 있지만, 다른 나라에서는 기준이 더 높습니다. 폭염은 건강 경보, 물 사용 제한, 녹는 아스팔트 뉴스를 불러옵니다. 단순히 더운 하루가 아닌, 지속적인 더위의 공격을 견뎌야 한다는 극한과 인내의 뉘앙스를 담고 있습니다.

Examples

We're having a heatwave.
我们正在经历热浪
Estamos teniendo una ola de calor
熱波が来ている
폭염이 왔다.
In the middle of a heatwave.
正处于热浪之中
En medio de una ola de calor
熱波の真っ只中だ
폭염 한가운데다.
The heatwave continues.
热浪持续中
La ola de calor continúa
熱波が続いている
폭염이 계속되고 있다.
Heatwave expected.
预计会有热浪
Se espera una ola de calor
熱波が予想されている
폭염이 예상된다.

Pronunciation

/ˈhiːtweɪv/

Usage Guide

Context: hot weather, extended heat, summer

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

Heatwave.
热浪来了
Ola de calor
猛暑だ
폭염이다.
We're having a heatwave.
我们正经历热浪
Estamos en plena ola de calor
猛暑が続いてるね
폭염이 계속되고 있어.
The heatwave.
这波热浪
La ola de calor
この猛暑
이번 폭염.

✗ Don't Say

Don't use for a single hot day—a heatwave implies sustained duration
不要用于单独一天的炎热——热浪意味着持续的时间
No uses para un solo día caluroso—una ola de calor implica duración sostenida
一日だけの暑い日には使わない。熱波は持続期間を意味する
하루만 더운 날에는 사용하지 마세요. 폭염은 지속적인 기간을 의미합니다
Be aware thresholds differ internationally—a British heatwave might be normal elsewhere
注意标准因国家而异——英国的热浪在其他地方可能是正常的
Ten en cuenta que los umbrales difieren internacionalmente—una ola de calor británica podría ser normal en otros lugares
基準は国際的に異なることに注意。イギリスの熱波は他の場所では普通かもしれない
국가마다 기준이 다릅니다. 영국의 폭염은 다른 나라에서는 평범한 수준일 수 있습니다

Common Mistakes

Spelling varies: 'heatwave' (British) vs 'heat wave' (American)—both are correct
Using for any summer heat—officially requires multiple days above defined thresholds

Origin & History

The term combines 'heat' with 'wave,' borrowing from the meteorological concept of weather systems moving in waves. First recorded in American English in the 1870s, it quickly spread to British usage. The definition varies significantly by region: the UK Met Office defines a heatwave as three consecutive days above a regional threshold (25-28°C depending on location), while Mediterranean countries might scoff at such temperatures. The 2003 European heatwave and 2022 UK record of 40°C made the term increasingly prominent in British discourse.

Etymology: Heat + wave

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: News coverage; Weather events

Regional notes: Universal. British heatwave threshold is lower than Mediterranean countries.

Variations

HeatwaveHeat waveThe heatwave