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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
After Haliburton converted the go-ahead shot, all Milwaukee could manage was a nearly full-court heave by Trent that had no chance. —Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2025 Wilson, in fairness, has completed some downfield throws, including a heave to Slayton down the left sideline last Thursday against an all-out blitz. —Pat Leonard, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2025
Noun
Wander historic European towns and seasonal markets during harvest season Courtesy of Emerald Cruises With the vineyards full of grapes ready for harvest and trees heaving with ripe apples and pears, late summer and autumn are perhaps the most flavorful times to cruise through Europe. —AFAR Media, 20 May 2025 When videos of Serwa heaving a knuckler at 88.5 mph hit the internet this winter, the baseball world noticed. —Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 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
  • As David Brooks might say, they were then hoisted on their own petards.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • That poor field position doomed New England, as the Patriots could only reach their own 49 as time expired and Philadelphia hoisted its first Lombardi Trophy.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 17 July 2025
Definition of hoist
Verb
  • Their main symptoms were vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 17 July 2025
  • It is characterized by acid attacks from vomiting on teeth in general.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Definition of vomit
Verb
  • Detroit Thermal is asking a judge to lift a temporary restraining order from doing work in Lafayette Park's Mies van der Rohe district to build an underground steam heat network.
    — Dana Afana, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
  • And Boatright delivered another electric ending for the Stars of Storrs, hitting the three to lift the team built around UConn alums to a 78-76 victory over the Green Mountain Men, mostly Vermont alums, in the second round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in Syracuse on Monday night.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Facing a ream of questions about the future of MasterChef now that Wallace has been dismissed, Tim Davie threw his weight behind the BBC stalwart series, which is currently renewed up until 2028.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2025
  • Through his first eight seasons with the Panthers, Newton threw for over 3,000 yards each year.
    — Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Definition of throw
Verb
  • Onlookers gasped and seemed confused about what had happened.
    — Sofia Joseph, jsonline.com, 16 July 2025
  • If the person is not breathing or only gasping, CPR should begin immediately.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Definition of gasp
Noun
  • His thrust is political: to examine how assassination functions as an instrument, and how states’ reactions to assassination shape its use.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
  • The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, also indicated that both pilots were confused over the change to the switch setting, which caused a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 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
  • There were vocal protesters hurling insults and sometimes water bottles at federal agents, and there were anxious friends and family of those who work at Glass House, a huge cannabis operation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • Attorneys in death penalty cases often raise the issue of past trauma as a mitigating factor for juries to consider when deciding punishment.
    — The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • Money raised will prioritize private residential nursing care, additional support services and ongoing transport and palliative care needs.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 15 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 29 Jul. 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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