heft

1 of 2

noun

ˈheft 

1

a

: weight, heaviness

needed a hammer with more heft

b

: importance, influence

… this bipartisan group may provide the needed heft to get a … bill through the Senate this session.

—Katharine Q. Seelye

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 of heft

Noun

• weight

Verb

• heave
• hoist

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

After the unprecedented heft of change last season, the fall runways featured the results, plus debuts from Meryll Rogge at Marni, plus Rachel Scott’s and Demna’s first official runway collections at Proenza Schouler in New York and Gucci in Milan, respectively. —Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026

In targeting Saudi Arabia, Iran has brought in the diplomatic heft that comes with an attack on a regional leader. —CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026

Verb

The judge also hefted an additional $250 fine to one person’s charge for taking rocks. —Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026

Early the next morning, in the dark, prosecutors say, he was spotted on camera hefting a large, heavy object into his car trunk. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025

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

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heft

• cleft
• deft
• left
• theft
• bereft

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