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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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heave

2 of 2

noun

as in thrust

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Jensen duly heaves the throw-in towards the near post… … and Wissa circles around to attack the far one as Collins is battling to win the aerial duel. —Mark Carey, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 After a lot of loose-ball chaos, Hardaway got the ball in the corner and pump-faked before heaving it up. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
His half court heave was inches away from banking in for the win. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2025 Curry swished in a magical heave at the end of the first half from beyond halfcourt, igniting a 40-14 run that swung the game. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 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
  • First responders hoisted the victim out by helicopter, leaving them dangling at the end of a 150-foot rope from the aircraft’s belly, before landing and transferring them to an ambulance.
    — Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 30 May 2025
  • Championship banners fill the gymnasium walls, most notably in football where Marcus Allen started a career that wound up with him hoisting the Heisman Trophy and his bust enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    — Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Definition of hoist
Verb
  • Then, the other person came into the store and told her Jose was vomiting blood, according to the court records.
    — Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025
  • Without the compounds in ayahuasca that slow the breakdown of DMT in your body—or the ones that notoriously make ayahuasca drinkers vomit—the substance flashes through the brain at turbo speed.
    — Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Definition of vomit
Verb
  • However on Tuesday, Trump lifted a federal ban on the construction of a $5 billion wind farm off the coast of New York.
    — Kate Plummer Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off from a launch pad on the southeastern coast of India early Sunday, local time, with a radar reconnaissance satellite named EOS-09, or RISAT-1B.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • But a federal court’s ruling late Wednesday has thrown Trump’s entire trade policy into question.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
  • Then shortstop Anthony Volpe fielded a grounder but made a throwing error trying for an out at third base.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of throw
Verb
  • His comments had some in the audience gasping at times, given that the BBC’s role and its relationships with other players tend to be at the center of attention in the U.K. TV world.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • Abel, who aced his audition on May 18 with six-shutout innings against the Pirates in a spot start, will get slotted into the rotation while Johnson could get high-leverage innings for a depleted bullpen that’s gasping after losing Jose Alvarado to an 80-game PED suspension.
    — Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of gasp
Noun
  • But the thrust is also Hampton and Harrison’s battle.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 29 May 2025
  • Super Heavy is the largest piece of the Starship launch system and consists of a 232-foot (71-meter) steel cylinder, fuel tanks, and all 33 rocket engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Definition of thrust
Verb
  • Back then, the distance between the rubber and home plate was a mere 40 feet, and pitchers were hurling a white ball with white seams.
    — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • The insults were hurled on at least two occasions, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
    — Abigail Adams, People.com, 9 May 2025
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • The property is complete with a seating area, plunge pool, raised beds, and a greenhouse workout facility.
    — Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025
  • Stay hydrated: Since dry mouth raises gum disease risk, make sure to drink plenty of water.
    — Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 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 Jun. 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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