verb
heave
HEEV
verb
1
To lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort.
"They heaved the crate onto the back of the truck."
"She heaved a sigh of relief when the exam finally ended."
2
To rise and fall, or to retch as if about to vomit.
"His stomach heaved at the terrible smell."
noun
1
A strong pulling or lifting effort.
"With one final heave, they got the boat onto the shore."
How to Use Heave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lift or pull something heavy with visible effort — or for the stomach/chest, to rise and fall.
Common pairings
heave a sigh
heave a boat ashore
heave with effort
Word Forms
heaved past tense, hove past tense, hoven past tense, heft past tense, heaves plural, heaves singular
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Etymology
From Old English hebban, meaning to lift or raise — the same ancient root that gives us "heavy."