HEAVES TO Synonyms: 271 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

heave 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈhēv

Definition of heave next

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

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

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm heaved the brick over the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 4

noun (1)

as in thrust

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Dissimilar Words

heaves

3 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of heave

as in hoists

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vomits

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in lifts

to move from a lower to a higher place or position heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in throws

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm heaved the brick over the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in gasps

to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving

Synonyms & Similar Words

heaves

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of heave

as in thrusts

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

How does the verb heave contrast with its synonyms?

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

Former All-State high school quarterback Scott Burrell heaved the ball the length of the court and into the waiting hands of Tate George, who caught and shot in one motion and UConn, with a 71-70 win, was headed to the regional finals, a game away from the Final Four. —

From Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026 Oweh received the inbound pass, pushed the ball up the court and pulled up to the left of the midcourt logo to launch his desperation heave. —

CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

Noun

Buzelis snagged two steals, tracking a lob over his left shoulder like a cornerback to intercept a full-court heave from James. —

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 In a rematch from the regular season finale, where Miami’s game-tying half-court heave rimmed out in a narrow loss to Louisville, the Hurricanes advanced in the dance and earned their sixth quad one win of the season (6-5). —

Hunter Bailey, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026

Verb

Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point. —

Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026 The quarterback mishandles the snap and heaves the ball, which is picked off. —

Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave

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“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of heave

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