heave 1 of 2

1
as in to hoist
to lift with effort I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to vomit
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth heaved as soon as he stepped off the roller coaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving

Synonyms & Similar Words

heave

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb heave contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of heave are boost, elevate, hoist, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When might boost be a better fit than heave?

The synonyms boost and heave are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for heave?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When is hoist a more appropriate choice than heave?

The meanings of hoist and heave largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

Where would lift be a reasonable alternative to heave?

The words lift and heave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When can raise be used instead of heave?

The words raise and heave can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How do rear and raise relate to one another, in the sense of heave?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heave
Verb
Additional motorsport-style heave dampers act to suppress squat and dive, giving the bespoke Pirelli Trofeo R tires a fighting chance of relaying 1,257 ft lbs of torque to the road. Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025 At a rally for the slain child outside of the Joseph Campau Church of God on Friday, Aug. 1, the grieving father tried to get words out but couldn't through heaves and sobs. Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
Since 2023, the actor has regularly been photographed at the Studio City Farmers Market, arms—and Bode tote—heaving with tulips, pincushions, sunflowers, and sea lavender. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025 Contestants stood at one end and heaved the rats toward the other; the crowd pressed against the sidelines. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave
Verb
  • The 2020 49ers, as close as a Jet Chip Wasp away from hoisting the trophy a year earlier, finished 6-10.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The victim was still receiving medical care as he was being hoisted, the department said.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Then, early in the morning of February 18, Chernyak began having seizures and vomiting in his bunk bed.
    Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The first crazy thing that happens to the movie Smurls is when a kitchen chandelier almost falls on them, though the most visceral is when oldest sister Dawn Smurl (Beau Gadsdon) suddenly vomits up pieces of glass, leaving the sink and her face a bloody mess.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The lockdown was later lifted, but the university said access to campus would remain restricted to students, faculty, and staff with a valid school ID as local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies continued to investigate the threat.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This process lifts stains without increasing their surface area, which can be an issue when scrubbing by hand with a cloth or brush.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While much of last season was a lost cause due to Tua Tagovailoa being injured, the Dolphins still aren't throwing the ball downfield.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Or, take after Aniston by throwing them on with flip-flops and a basic T-shirt.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
    Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Some exchanges were breathtaking — to them, certainly, and to spectators who gasped at the power during longer points.
    Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hardt also upgraded its vehicle by cutting bogie weight by 45 percent, boosting thrust by 50 percent, and integrating magnetic guidance with propulsion.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Emboldened by his trip to Beijing, Kim on Monday watched a test of North Korea’s new high-thrust rocket engine, which state media said would be used to power Pyongyang’s newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-20.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Quirarte had switched to a still camera when Slebir, towed on a Jet Ski by his longtime surfing buddy Luca Padua of Half Moon Bay, hurled to the crest of the gigantic wave and let go of his tether.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Solar flares are colossal explosions in the sun's atmosphere that hurl out bursts of powerful radiation.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
  • There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming.
    Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on heave

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!