heave 1 of 4

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

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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

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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

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heaves

2 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of heave
1
as in hoists
to lift with effort I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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heave

3 of 4

noun (1)

heaves

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of heave

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
Then the workers gave a giant heave and released the swing. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025 Trabuco’s two-point attempt failed, which kept the lead at just one point, 20-19, but the Oilers’ final heave to the end zone was knocked down by Josh Fitch to seal the win. Zach Cavanagh, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
Just seven seconds into the second quarter, Beck heaved the first touchdown pass of his Miami career to freshman slot receiver Malachi Toney, a product of Plantation American Heritage and UM’s top receiver Sunday with six catches for 82 yards and the score. Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025 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
Noun
Several mega-talented Georgia defensive backs appeared to short-circuit and forget how to track a ball in the air on Tennessee heaves. Jason Kirk, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave

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Cite this Entry

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

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