# heaven

/ˈhɛvən/ (US) · /hˈɛvən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heaven
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious abode

noun · CEFR B1

the place where God lives and where good people are believed to go after they die.

For teachers: the dwelling place of the deity and the blessed dead in various religious traditions, often contrasted with hell.

- Many people believe that they will see their loved ones again in heaven.
- The fresco on the cathedral ceiling depicts a vibrant vision of heaven, populated by saints and celestial beings in eternal light.

Usage: Often capitalized when referring to the specific Christian or monotheistic concept.

### 2. great happiness

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a situation or place that makes you feel very happy and relaxed.

For teachers: a state of supreme happiness or a place of great beauty and delight.

- Lying on the beach with a good book was absolute heaven.
- For a bibliophile, spending a rainy afternoon in a quiet, multi-story library is pure heaven.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in the phrase 'pure heaven' or 'absolute heaven' to emphasize enjoyment.

### 3. the sky

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

the sky or the space where the stars and planets are.

For teachers: the expanse of space surrounding the earth; the firmament.

- The stars shone brightly in the dark night heaven.
- Galileo turned his telescope toward the heavens, hoping to uncover the secrets of the celestial bodies.

Usage: In this sense, it is very often used in the plural form: 'the heavens'.

### 4. divine power

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

God or the powers that control what happens in the world.

For teachers: the celestial powers or divine providence personified.

- Heaven knows why she decided to leave so suddenly.
- The king appealed to heaven to witness the justice of his cause before the battle commenced.

Teaching tip: Often found in fixed expressions like 'Heaven forbid' or 'Heaven knows'.

## Examples

- Sitting on the beach with a cold drink is absolute heaven.
- After a long week of stressful work, spending the weekend in the quiet countryside felt like heaven.
- While the poem explores the theological concept of heaven, it also serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's internal peace following a period of intense personal turmoil.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.