interjection
heck
hehk
interjection
1
A mild, family-friendly substitute for "hell," used to express frustration or surprise.
"What the heck is going on in here?"
"Oh heck, I forgot my keys again."
noun
1
Used in mild exclamations or emphatic phrases, standing in for "hell."
"It scared the heck out of me."
"We had a heck of a time finding parking."
How to Use Heck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite way of saying "hell" when you want to swear a little without actually swearing.
When to use it
Informal and considered acceptable in places actual profanity wouldn't be, including around children.
Common pairings
what the heck
a heck of a
heck no
Word Forms
hecked past tense, hecks plural, hecks singular
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Etymology
A late-19th-century northern English dialect softening of "hell," used to swear without actually swearing.