Word
heave
US/ˈhiv/
UK/hˈiːv/
Definition
v. to lift, pull, or throw something very heavy with a lot of effort. It can also describe the way your chest moves up and down when you are breathing hard or feeling sick.
v. to lift, pull, or throw with great effort; to rise and fall rhythmically or spasmodically. Often implies a physical struggle against weight or internal pressure.
Examples
“They had to heave the heavy sofa up the stairs.”
“The sailors worked together to heave the anchor out of the water before the storm arrived.”
“After finishing the marathon, his chest continued to heave as he struggled to regain his breath in the humid afternoon air.”
Examples
simple
“They had to heave the heavy sofa up the stairs.”
contextual
“The sailors worked together to heave the anchor out of the water before the storm arrived.”
complex
“After finishing the marathon, his chest continued to heave as he struggled to regain his breath in the humid afternoon air.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “heave” in context.
Verb
01. chest heave
“Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath after the sprint.”
noun + verb
02. ground heave
“The ground heaved suddenly during the violent earthquake.”
noun + verb
03. heave anchor
“At dawn the crew heaved anchor and set sail for open water.”
verb + noun
04. heave boulder
“Volunteers heaved boulders aside to clear the blocked mountain road.”
verb + noun
05. heave luggage
“We heaved our luggage onto the overhead rack before the train left.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. heave awkwardly
“They heaved the piano awkwardly through the narrow doorway.”
verb + adv
07. heave heavily
“The exhausted climbers heaved heavily as they reached the summit.”
verb + adv
Noun
08. heave into view
“The cliffs heaved into view as the mist finally lifted.”
verb + prep + noun
09. chest heaves with effort
“His chest heaved with effort as he dragged the survivor from the wreck.”
10. heave a heavy sigh
“He heaved a heavy sigh when the final bill arrived at the table.”
11. heave and haul in unison
“The team had to heave and haul in unison to move the lifeboat.”
12. heave oneself upright
“Injured, he heaved himself upright and stumbled toward the door.”
Usage
Often used with 'up' or 'at' when describing the physical act of lifting or pulling.
Real-World Examples
“With a grunt, a heave and a sway, Pisarenko lifted the bar from the floor to his chest and stood erect.” “As he strips down, we see the effort this is taking; his chest heaving, his body glistening.” “Instead of relaxation we encounter heaving crowds, lumpy beds, the caprices of our loved ones and the grim truth that we can escape neither their worst failings nor our own, however far we travel.” Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European root kap-, through the reconstructed form kh₂pyéti, the word descends through Proto-Germanic habjaną and Proto-West Germanic habbjan. It appears in Old English as hebban and in Middle English as heven or hebben, sharing a common lineage with the verb have.
The term is cognate with West Frisian heffe, Dutch heffen, German heben, and Danish hæve. Further relatives include Albanian kap, meaning to grasp or seize, Latvian kàmpt, Latin capiō, and Ancient Greek κάπτω, to gulp down. The root also appears in Old Irish cáin and cacht, as well as the Greek κώπη, a handle.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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