heft

1 of 2

noun

ˈheft 

1

a

: weight, heaviness

b

: importance, influence

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 it

—Consumer Reports

Synonyms

Noun

• avoirdupois
• heaviness
• weight

Verb

• boost
• heave
• hoist
• jack (up)
• upheave

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

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

Kids Definition

heft

1 of 2 noun

ˈheft 

: weight entry 1 sense 1a, heaviness

heft

2 of 2 verb

1

: to heave up : lift

2

: to test the weight of by lifting