heaven

play

noun heav·en \ ˈhe-vən \

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

But in Washington, the opportunity to pull up a lawn chair and a sleeping bag and just watch the heavens roll by still beckons.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Nature’s gift to Washingtonians: some of the last, best stargazing in the world," 28 Aug. 2017
As a human reference point who knows both the heavens and speed, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Allen will be tough to beat.

— chris cantle, Car and Driver, "Driving into Darkness: Experiencing the Great American Eclipse in the Great American Sports Car," 23 Aug. 2017
Everything's back to normal, on the ground and in the heavens — well, aside from the wildfires.

— robert allen, Detroit Free Press, "I dodged wildfires and slept in a field to capture the solar eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
As the black orb of the moon nibbles away at the sun's face, the heavens dim to a quasi-twilight and some stars and planets will be visible.

— author: steve gorman, harriet mcleod, Alaska Dispatch News, "Millions of Americans hope for clear sky as total solar eclipse begins," 21 Aug. 2017
Rallying Cry: Refining my dreams lets me bring heaven to earth.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes August Week 4," 19 Aug. 2017
Does your cat spend long afternoons searching the cloudy heavens above for clues to her existence?

— jennifer larino, NOLA.com, "Pets of New Orleans: The sun will disappear (briefly) Monday. You cannot watch.," 18 Aug. 2017
Here's a recap of our encounter with cheese heaven.

— matt dollinger, SI.com, "The Cheetos Pop-Up Restaurant Did Not Disappoint," 16 Aug. 2017
On Monday, Aug. 21, when the moon blocks out the light of the midday sun, traffic along Interstate 29 is expected to come to a standstill as thousands of drivers pull to the side of the road, abandon their vehicles and peer into the heavens.

— eric adler, kansascity, "Why the mania over August’s solar eclipse? There hasn’t been one like it since 1778.," 14 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

heaven Synonyms

Synonyms

above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky, Zion (also Sion), on high

Antonyms

Gehenna, hell, Pandemonium, perdition

Related Words

Beulah, glory, happy hunting ground, nirvana, promised land, Valhalla; afterlife, afterworld, hereafter, otherworld

Near Antonyms

inferno; limbo, purgatory; hades, netherworld, underworld; abyss, pit

Other Christian Religious Terms

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

HEAVEN Defined for English Language Learners

heaven

play

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