verb
heave
HEEV
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.”
verb
1
To lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort.
"They heaved the crate onto the back of the truck."
"She heaved a sigh of relief when the exam finally ended."
2
To rise and fall, or to retch as if about to vomit.
"His stomach heaved at the terrible smell."
noun
1
A strong pulling or lifting effort.
"With one final heave, they got the boat onto the shore."
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.
Common pairings
heave a sigh
heave a boat ashore
heave with effort
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Word forms
- Plural
- heaves
- Third person singular
- heaves
- Past tense
- heaved, hove, hoven, heft
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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.
