heave
Heave (verb) means to lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort. Example: “They heaved the crate onto the back of the truck.”
How to use heave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lift or pull something heavy with visible effort — or for the stomach/chest, to rise and fall.
Word forms
heaved past tense, hove past tense, hoven past tense, heft past tense, heaves plural, heaves singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ the crate onto the back of the truck.
Etymology
From Old English hebban, meaning to lift or raise — the same ancient root that gives us "heavy."
Related words
Rhymes for heave
See all rhymes for heave →Frequently asked questions
What does “heave” mean?
The word “heave” means to lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort. In plain terms, to lift or pull something heavy with visible effort — or for the stomach/chest, to rise and fall.
How do you pronounce “heave”?
“Heave” is pronounced HEEV (/ˈhiːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “heave” in a sentence?
Here is “heave” used in a sentence: “They heaved the crate onto the back of the truck.”
What part of speech is “heave”?
Depending on how it is used, “heave” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “heave” come from?
The word “heave” comes from Old English. From Old English hebban, meaning to lift or raise — the same ancient root that gives us "heavy.".
How many meanings does “heave” have?
“Heave” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort.