heave

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verb

ˈhēv

heaved or hove ˈhōv

; heaving

Synonyms of heave next

transitive verb

: lift, raise

heaved the trunk onto the table

: throw, cast

heaved her books on the floor

: to utter with obvious effort or with a deep breath

heave a sigh of relief

: to cause to swell or rise

a spent horse gasping and heaving his chest

Frost had heaved the sidewalk.

geology : to displace (something, such as a rock stratum or a mineral vein) especially by a fault

: to draw, pull, or haul on (something, such as a rope)

heave a line

obsolete : elevate

intransitive verb

: to rise and fall rhythmically

The boat heaved up and down on the waves.

: pant

runners heaving at the finish line

: pull, push

heaving on a rope

: to move a ship in a specified direction or manner

past tense usually hove : to move in an indicated way

the ship hove into view

: to rise or become thrown or raised up

Roads had begun to heave with frost.

: retch, vomit

nearly heaved at the gruesome sight

: to strain or labor to do something difficult : struggle

heaver noun

heave

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noun

: an effort to pull or raise something

with each heave of the rope

: an act or instance of throwing : hurl

gave the ball a heave toward the basket

: an upward motion : rising

especially : a rhythmical rising

the heave of his chest

geology : horizontal displacement especially by the faulting of a rock

the total heave of the strata

heaves plural in form but singular or plural in construction, veterinary medicine : chronic pulmonary emphysema of the horse resulting in difficult expiration, heaving of the flanks, and a persistent cough

Phrases

heave to

: to halt the headway of a ship (as by positioning a sailboat with the jib aback and the rudder turned sharply to windward)

Choose the Right Synonym for heave

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position.

lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

Example Sentences

Verb She heaved the door shut. The quarterback heaved the ball down the field. She sat down and heaved a sigh of relief. Noun We lifted the box onto the table with a heave. He gave the rope a mighty heave. The quarterback uncorked a mighty heave. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Father Reuben heaved himself out of the garment trade, became a prominent Chicago optometrist, and had two sons. —

Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 There are pictures of her on the steps in Brooklyn with his family just like heaved over, like fainted. —

Max Berlinger, Town & Country, 20 Apr. 2023 So, as the earth heaved for more than a minute, Mr. Yayla, 21, and his 62-year-old mother, Sohret Guclu, a retired schoolteacher, remained inside. —

Nimet Kirac, New York Times, 4 May 2023 In Ohio, witnesses reported that a prisoner heaved and snorted. —

Lauren Gill, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2023 That’s not to say the cities empty out – the cultural calendar in Baku is heaving, and those warm evenings are perfect for throwing yourself into the capital’s nightlife. Escape to the Caspian Sea When the mercury rises, locals head for the coast. —

Nell Lewis, CNN, 28 Apr. 2023 After making the catch, the 5-foot-11 freshman from Parker, Colorado, heaved a one-hop throw to Travis Bazzana at second base, and Bazzana doubled-up Grudzielanek, who had rounded the bag. —

Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023 The tow lines heaved. —

Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2023 Meanwhile, another team heaved the empty dugouts from the riverbank, to be pulled along the skidway one by one. —

Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023

Noun

The last touchdown came in an end zone crowded with defenders on a last-second heave by Reyna when the game was already decided. —

Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2023 Creighton's desperation inbound heave caromed off of a scrum of players and did not leave enough time on the clock for the Bluejays to get a final shot. —

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2023 Hoggard’s desperation heave at the buzzer didn’t count. —

Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2023 Villanova finished the 2021-22 season shooting 82.6% from the free throw line, best in NCAA history, and closed the game with evasive ball movement that drained the clock, forcing a Tyrese Martin desperation heave from half-court that clanked off the rim as time expired on UConn’s season. —

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 27 Dec. 2022 West Salem still doesn't have a first down and had to punt it to Monroe, which converted on 3rd and 7 near midfield thanks to what looked like a desperate heave by quarterback Brukwicki, but it was lofted perfectly to an open Charlie Wiegel 42 yards away to the West Salem 15-yard line. —

Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2022 The Raptors led 28-23 after one and VanVleet connected on a halfcourt heave at the halftime buzzer as Toronto extended its lead to 58-47. —

Ian Harrison, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Apr. 2023 George, who had missed two critical free throws Friday again Sacramento, made two free throws to force a tie with 23 seconds left, then after a miss by Denver in the final seconds, threw a heave from past half-court that swished — but the ball had been in his hands as the final seconds ran off. —

Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2023 The lead would change hands 10 more times down the stretch, the last of those off Cleveland’s desperation heave. —

Tim Reynolds, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2023 See More

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