heave 1 of 3

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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heaved

2 of 3

verb (2)

variants or hove
past tense of heave
1
2
as in vomited
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 gasped
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 3

noun

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
Thunder guard Jalen Williams attempted a heave from deep in his half as time expired, but the ball hit the backboard and bounced away, sparking wild celebrations from the Denver squad. Ben Morse, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 Young was forced to overthrow McMillan on a deep heave because Horn blanketed him for roughly 25 to 30 yards. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2025
Verb
Shortstop Edmundo Sosa desperately heaved the ball home upon fielding the relay, but the throw was equal parts errant and late. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 July 2025 Step inside – once the doors have heaved themselves open, which isn’t the work of a moment – and the cabin is pleasant enough but lacks the wow-factor of the exterior. Alistair Charlton, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave
Noun
  • Thus, gas molecules bouncing off the lower part gained more momentum than those at the top, generating lift similar to how a rocket’s jet produces upward thrust.
    Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2025
  • The main thrust of democratic socialism—economic fairness—resonates with many Americans, but potentially more so with racial minorities due to their history of exclusion from the workforce, housing, and other critical dimensions of the American ecosystem.
    Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The west London club has won all six WSL titles since Arsenal last won it in 2019 and last year finished a cushy 12 points clear of the north Londoners, even after significant upheaval that included legendary manager Emma Hayes leaving the club.
    Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Having flirted with relegation more or less closely for the past four seasons, the Toffees will be hoping the move to their new ground can coincide with an upturn in fortunes.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The actual data show good news: a declining trend in multiple job holding over decades, with a recent upturn.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Use this moment—the early grind, the slow climb—as your forge.
    Joel Goldstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The rover completed the climb to the summit of the crater in December 2024, three years after landing.
    James Powel, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • When employees feel valued and see the direct impact of their work, engagement soars.
    Sacha Obaid, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • President Trump’s signature tax and spending bill slashes clean energy funding even as demand for electricity soars.
    Scott Cohn, CNBC, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • The app has had an upsurge in popularity as of late and reached the top of the App Store ranking this week.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 27 July 2025
  • Much more worrying is the broader upsurge in vaccine rejection, which threatens to introduce community spread of measles into the wider population.
    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • Even losing half of that number is a significant upswing for the show.
    John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • He’s been on a major upswing over the past week, however.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.

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