heft

1 of 2

noun

1
2
archaic : the greater part of something : bulk

heft

2 of 2

verb

hefted; hefting; hefts

transitive verb

1
: to heave up : hoist
2
: to test the weight of by lifting
hefting the rod … to get the feel of itConsumer Reports

Examples of heft in a Sentence

Noun the heft of a good hammer some synthetic fabrics are nice and warm, but I prefer wool because it has more heft Verb hefted his growing son onto his shoulders heft your baggy gym shorts a little higher—you're showing us more than we care to see
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Redshirt senior Nate Clifton and sophomore Elijah Hughes have both been mentioned as standouts this spring, but neither have the heft needed to man the nose tackle spot. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024 But this venue can accommodate larger pieces, which more effectively conjure the heft and presence of Moumin’s architectural inspirations. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024 For Brazil, China, and India in particular, claiming leadership of the global South offers clear advantages, including opportunities to expand their global diplomatic heft and firm up economic relationships. Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024 Along the way, Schubert’s music — arias and lieder, and other excerpts — is strung together with slight alterations, particularly in the arrangements by Robert Percival that, while occasionally anachronistic, maintain the show’s dramatic heft and a sense of consistency. Joshua Barone, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 With more months came heft and an uncanny internal stirring, like a twitch of a new inner muscle that became distinct flailings, bumpings, and rollings. Clare Beams, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024 Tender sea bass, wrapped in a foil of carrot, provided texture and heft without distracting from the earthiness of Daucus Carota. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 Its economy and heft as a manufacturer have alsogrown substantially since then. Hanna Ziady, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024 It’s made from a French Terry knit that has the perfect combination of comfort and heft—not too stiff, not too flimsy, but just right. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024
Verb
In the leafcutter ant exhibit, visitors can watch half a million tiny ants scurry industriously to and fro, hefting shards of leaves above their heads like tiny sails. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024 Four men hefted Benites and placed her in the back seat. Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2024 Each Wolfram hefts a boxy launcher with cells to launch eight Brimstones (out of over 600 donated), with an effective range of 12 miles, or 24 miles using Brimstone 2s. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023 In his backyard, Andy Muñoz hefted his oxygen machine onto his lap to sit on a swing beside his son. Vivian Ewing, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023 The man hefted the entrapped raccoon into the trunk of his car. Martha McPhee, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023 Medicine balls, the round, weighted orbs designed to be hefted tossed, slammed, thrown, and rolled, are a staple of functional fitness workouts and activities like CrossFit, where exercises like wall balls are commonplace. David Otey, Men's Health, 20 July 2023 At a nearby production line, Amazon workers are busily putting robots together, hefting large pieces of steel around with the help of mechanical arms and installing electronics, sensors, and motors. Will Knight, WIRED, 26 June 2023 Aptly codenamed Condor by NATO, the 200-ton jet—capable of hefting 150 tons of cargo and roughly 50 tons of fuel—is the reigning T-Rex of heavy lift aviation. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from heave, after such pairs as weave : weft

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heft was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near heft

Cite this Entry

“Heft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heft. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

heft

2 of 2 verb
1
: to heave up : lift
2
: to test the weight of by lifting

More from Merriam-Webster on heft

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