heaven

noun heav·en \ ˈhe-vən \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: heaven in a Sentence

Definition of heaven

1 : the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome : firmament —usually used in plural

the brightest star in the heavens

2 a often capitalized : the dwelling place of the Deity and the blessed dead

hopes to go to Heaven when she dies

b : a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God

3 capitalized : god 1

Heaven help us.

4 : a place or condition of utmost happiness : something that is very pleasant or enjoyable

Our week at the spa was sheer heaven.

5 Christian Science : a state of thought in which sin is absent and the harmony of divine Mind (see ¹mind 8) is manifest

See heaven defined for English-language learners

See heaven defined for kids

Examples of heaven in a Sentence

She prayed to God in Heaven.
He hopes to go to Heaven when he dies.
Our baby is a gift from heaven.
the brightest star in the heavens

Recent Examples of heaven from the Web

With the towering, futuristic Performing Arts complex near completion, the school looks as if a campus from the future fell from the heavens and landed in a cornfield on FM 1628.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "East Central wants to be Tennis Central," 29 May 2018
For adventure purists, the region has long been an empty sandstone heaven.

— abe streep, Outside Online, "The Tribes v. Donald Trump," 1 May 2018
Each camera has seven lenses, which funnel light from the heavens toward four CCD image sensors.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "NASA’s New Exoplanet Satellite Has a Better Shot of Finding Life Close to Home," 17 Apr. 2018
Other soloists also impressed, none more so than boy soprano Jahdai Figueroa, whose confident, angelic voice ascended to the heavens.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF's Bernstein 'Mass' will thrill your weary soul," 6 Apr. 2018
Lazybones dawdle in bikinis on the roomy terrace while sun worshipers trip off to Kokkina beach, a two-minute drive away; after dark, the candlelit lounge on the roof gives stargazers the full sweep of the heavens.

— donna bulseco, WSJ, "6 Vacation Villas With Enviable Pools," 15 May 2018
If being surrounded by dogs sounds like a dream, your heaven is in this week's Get-Out Guide.

— hannah kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Love dogs? Make pug pals at Pug Fest in Franklin May 20," 14 May 2018
Christian icons often picture Christ ascending to heaven in a mandorla to illustrate the space where two worlds merge — in this case, heaven and earth.

— ashley abramson, Longreads, "A Motherless Daughter, Mothering," 11 May 2018
New England would have had to move heaven and earth to get in position to draft Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, USC’s Sam Darnold, Wyoming’s Josh Allen or UCLA’s Josh Rosen.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Draft an Heir for Brady? Looks Like Patriots Will Wait Till Next Year," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heaven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of heaven

Middle English heven, from Old English heofon; akin to Old High German himil heaven

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

heaven Synonyms

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

HEAVEN Defined for English Language Learners

heaven

noun

Definition of heaven for English Language Learners

: the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions
: something that is very pleasant or good
the heavens : the sky