heave

1 of 2

verb

heaved or hove ˈhōv How to pronounce heave (audio) ; heaving

transitive verb

1
: lift, raise
heaved the trunk onto the table
2
: throw, cast
heaved her books on the floor
3
: to utter with obvious effort or with a deep breath
heave a sigh of relief
4
a
: to cause to swell or rise
a spent horse gasping and heaving his chest
Frost had heaved the sidewalk.
b
geology : to displace (something, such as a rock stratum or a mineral vein) especially by a fault
5
: to draw, pull, or haul on (something, such as a rope)
heave a line
6
obsolete : elevate

intransitive verb

1
a
: to rise and fall rhythmically
The boat heaved up and down on the waves.
b
: pant
runners heaving at the finish line
2
a
: pull, push
heaving on a rope
b
: to move a ship in a specified direction or manner
c
past tense usually hove : to move in an indicated way
the ship hove into view
3
: to rise or become thrown or raised up
Roads had begun to heave with frost.
4
: retch, vomit
nearly heaved at the gruesome sight
5
: to strain or labor to do something difficult : struggle
heaver noun

heave

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an effort to pull or raise something
with each heave of the rope
b
: an act or instance of throwing : hurl
gave the ball a heave toward the basket
2
: an upward motion : rising
especially : a rhythmical rising
the heave of his chest
3
geology : horizontal displacement especially by the faulting of a rock
the total heave of the strata
4
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.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English heven, from Old English hebban; akin to Old High German hevan to lift, Latin capere to take

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 6

Noun

circa 1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heave was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near heave

Cite this Entry

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heave. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

heave

1 of 2 verb
heaved or hove ˈhōv How to pronounce heave (audio) ; heaving
1
: to raise with effort
heave a trunk onto a truck
2
: throw entry 1 sense 1a, cast, hurl
heave a rock
3
: to utter with effort
heave a sigh
4
: to rise and fall repeatedly
the runner's chest was heaving
5
: to be thrown up or raised
the ground heaved during the earthquake
6
heaver noun

heave

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an effort to heave or raise
b
: a forceful throw : cast
2
: a rhythmic rising (as of the chest in breathing)

Medical Definition

heave

verb
heaved; heaving

transitive verb

: vomit
got carsick and heaved his lunch

intransitive verb

: to undergo retching or vomiting

More from Merriam-Webster on heave

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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