Heimlich maneuver

noun

Heim·​lich maneuver ˈhīm-lik- 

: the manual application of sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen of a choking victim to force a foreign object from the trachea

Examples of Heimlich maneuver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Michael Gingras, a 15-year-old sophomore at Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, learned the Heimlich maneuver a year ago during a brief lesson in gym class. —Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026

Simon performed the Heimlich maneuver on the child, Lorain City Schools said. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

His sister administered back thrusts and, eventually, an abdominal thrust formerly called the Heimlich maneuver. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

The episode showed Cammie dealing with a choking victim over video chat, walking the woman through how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Henry J. Heimlich †2016 American surgeon

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Heimlich maneuver

• approver
• improver
• remover
• louver
• mover

Kids Definition

Heimlich maneuver

noun

Heim·​lich maneuver ˈhīm-lik- 

: a method for forcing an object out the airway of a choking person that involves standing behind the person with arms wrapped about the person's waist and applying sudden upward pressure with the fist to the area directly above the navel

Etymology

named after Henry J. Heimlich, an American surgeon born in 1920

Medical Definition

Heimlich maneuver

noun

Heim·​lich maneuver

ˈhīm-lik-

: the manual application of sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen of a choking victim to force a foreign object from the trachea