dry heaves

plural noun

: repeated involuntary retching unaccompanied by vomit

Examples of dry heaves in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His woes started with neck pain, then progressed to dry heaves and headaches. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 In a city renowned for public vomiting, Kansas was bent over with dry heaves. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2022 Albertina Bonetti, 77, from Trescore Balneario, near Bergamo, developed nausea and fever on March 7, followed by dry heaves and diarrhea. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 10 May 2020 The symptoms began immediately: First, dry heaves, and then intense neck and head pain, according to doctors at the Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York. Laignee Barron, Time, 10 Apr. 2018 The 34-year-old man, who was not identified, experienced a series of intense headaches and dry heaving after eating a Carolina Reaper, reportedly the hottest pepper in the world, during the contest in New York. Mark Lieber, CNN, 9 Apr. 2018 Exhausted from labor and dry heaves, Kirsten begged for an epidural, and Liam finally emerged into Michael’s hands. Anndee Hochman, Philly.com, 3 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry heaves.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry heaves was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near dry heaves

Cite this Entry

“Dry heaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20heaves. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

dry heaves

noun plural
: repeated involuntary retching unaccompanied by vomit
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