heave 1 of 2

verb

ˈhēv How to pronounce heave (audio)
Definition of heavenext
1
as in to hoist
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 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
3
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm heaved the brick over the fence

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

heave

2 of 2

noun

as in thrust

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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

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
The Pacers had one final heave that clanked off the iron as the Thunder celebrated a massive victory. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025 In Game 1, his 3-for-8 3pt shooting night included a 70-foot heave at the second quarter buzzer. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Noun
Fungus growing near the roots and heaving soil can also be signs of unhealthy roots. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2025 Economists warn that wide-ranging U.S. tariffs on trading partners could spark another bout of inflation and hinder economic growth, while global financial markets have heaved at the prospect of significantly higher trading costs. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for heave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave
  1. hoist
  2. vomit
  3. lift
  4. throw
  5. gasp
  6. thrust
  7. hurl
  8. raise
Verb
  • With a glimmer of hope, Punk was able to hoist Gunther in the air for a GTS attempt, but Gunther escaped again and hit a power bomb.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Two out-of-state hikers were hoisted to safety in a record-breaking rescue, Colorado rescuers said.
    — Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of hoist
Verb
  • Seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits, symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
    — Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 29 July 2025
  • Oftentimes, discomfort and queasiness become worse immediately before vomiting.
    — Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 7 July 2025
Definition of vomit
Verb
  • Celebration topped off with Austin Corbett lifting him up in the huddle.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2025
  • The most important quality of a coaster for me personally is airtime, that's the feeling where you're being lifted up out of your seat and feel multiple times lighter as the forces of gravity weaken on you.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • His brother, Eugene Howard, threw him into a small pool of water, thereby probably saving his life.
    — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 29 July 2025
  • Bivens worked as the bulk guy in a bullpen game, throwing three innings, but Mauricio’s double ended his day.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 July 2025
Definition of throw
Verb
  • One showed a cucumber gasping at the sight of a jar of sliced pickles.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
  • The surrounding sidewalks are fringed with gasping palms and packed tightly with bodies in capri pants and sleeveless sweaters.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 17 July 2025
Definition of gasp
Noun
  • Howell-Baptiste anchors the film with a thrillingly nuanced performance, seamlessly transitioning from a character that’s expected to be seen and not heard into someone who has the spotlight thrust upon them at the most inopportune moment.
    — Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 31 July 2025
  • The back panel incorporates a carbon fiber skeleton to help everything stay stiff and secure against the thrust.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 July 2025
Definition of thrust
Verb
  • Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night’s violence, which followed several days of lower intensity unrest.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
  • As Elia trudged down the left-field line to the clubhouse after the game, a dozen or so alleged Cub fans doused Moreland with stale beer and hurled verbal abuse at Larry Bowa.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • Funds for the Parkland Library reopening came from a mix of allocations in the city budget, federal American Rescue Plan funds and donations raised through the Library Foundation.
    — Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 29 July 2025
  • Firefly Aerospace seeks to raise more than $600 million through a public stock offering, an arrangement that would boost the company's market valuation to near $5.5 billion, according to a document filed with the SEC on Monday.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
Definition of raise

Browse Nearby Words

heat wave
heave
heaved
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Cite this Entry

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heave

Nglish: Translation of heave for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heave

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