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

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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
After a lot of loose-ball chaos, Hardaway got the ball in the corner and pump-faked before heaving it up. Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025 But as players had to heave sandbags, move through an obstacle course, toss balls and complete a puzzle, the Vula tribe (with no original Vula members on it) were once again the last team to finish. Emily Deletter, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
His half court heave was inches away from banking in for the win. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2025 Curry swished in a magical heave at the end of the first half from beyond halfcourt, igniting a 40-14 run that swung the game. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave
Verb
  • The climber holds onto the rescuer as they are hoisted from the cliff, the video shows.
    Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2025
  • Between the statue, the mural, the mosaic, the renaming of a road at the training ground, a host of legends sending their regards and current team-mates hoisting him up into the air, there is not much more that Manchester City could have done to give Kevin De Bruyne a fitting send-off.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Sportsnet cameras caught Stolarz vomiting over the boards and into a bucket brought over by the team’s training staff.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
  • Stolarz, who took an earlier fastball to his facemask, soon skated to the bench and vomited over the boards.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • Removing Old or Set-in Vaseline Stains on Delicate Fabrics Cornstarch or baby powder can lift Vaseline stains from fabrics, thanks to their absorbency.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2025
  • Then Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie lifted a puck from Frost defender Maggie Flaherty behind the net, and Jocelyne Larocque slipped a low shot past Rooney to give the Charge the late lead.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who went on the injured list May 2 with a left knee injury, did some throwing Friday and is continuing to progress in his rehab, but Washington said the team has no date for his return.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
  • The girl, whose family identified her as Lily, was driven to a remote location on the night of May 3, where her ex-boyfriend then assaulted her, choked her and threw her from a moving vehicle, the Star-Telegram previously reported.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • For anyone who’s ever been on a ventilator, death by suffocation is a paralyzing terror and Carson wholly sells this nightmare, painfully gasping for air and gurgling horribly as his nurse call button slips out of reach.
    Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
  • Art flop: When a bronze head by the master sculptor Alberto Giacometti failed to sell at Sotheby’s auction, the audience gasped.
    German Lopez, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Like the thrusts that have come with Trump's return to office, the White House in 1981 was striving to strike while the post-election iron was still hot.
    Ron Elving, NPR, 17 May 2025
  • Two engines would also provide more thrust, which is better for flying at high altitudes and carrying heavier cargo.
    Theo Burman Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Inside the truck, the bodies of three teenage boys hurled forward, each with terrible velocity.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
  • The strongest solar flare so far this year hurled streams of plasma and charged particles into the cosmos and caused communications blackouts on five continents.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
  • The fundraiser is to be held Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Smyth raised $34,000 in campaign contributions, the Nancy on Norwalk website reports, in the first four weeks after announcing her candidacy in March.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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