to heave

Examples

• All

• Hanner lays the dustpan aside, heaves herself up, and walks around the side of the house.

  Fiction book (1990)

• By this time, she had already got hold of his hand, heaved, and given him a good start.

  Academic text (2007)

• You just want to heave on it until it comes through.

• All hands stand by... and when I tell you, heave the hatch cover, come out fighting.

  The Black Swan (1942)

• So they heave out all the baggage, but it's still too heavy.

  An American Werewolf in London (1981)

• I twisted him around and heaved him a little higher.

  Academic text (2005)

• Not missing a beat, Storm grabs a heavy pillow, heaves it without looking at the door.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Wyatt came to a clearing and heaved his suitcase over a fence.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The T-1000 pulls the I-beam back and then heaves it forward again.

  Fiction book (1991)

• A hundred dwarves roared and charged forward, heaving axes and warhammers into the charging goblin throng.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

H

to haul

vsto heave

106 2.5

To pull something with effort, often slowly

is more general and includes lifting or throwing too

H

to hoist

vsto heave

79 4.7

To lift heavy things using ropes, pulleys, or a machine

is broader and can be done without such equipment

T

to tug

vsto heave

56 1.0

To pull something hard, often in a quick way

involves sustained heavy effort or also includes lifting and throwing

H

to hurl

vsto heave

53 3.6

To throw something very hard

focuses on effort moving heavy things, not only forceful throwing

W

to winch

vsto heave

5 5.9

To pull something up using a machine with a rope or cable

can be done by muscle effort and not by a machine

H

to heave up

vsto heave

• Informal

3 4.5

To lift something heavy with a lot of effort

applies to moving heavy things by lifting, pulling, or throwing with effort

H

to heft up

vsto heave

• Informal

1 6.1

To lift something with effort to see how heavy it is

is for moving heavy things rather than testing weight

Antonyms

L

to lower

802 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

Idioms

G

to give the heave-ho

• Informal

4 8.5

To tell someone to leave their job or to stop using something

Phrasal Verbs

H

to heave up

• Informal

3 4.5

To lift something heavy with a lot of effort

Compounds

F

frost heave

• UK

8.0

Soil or road that rises when water in the ground freezes and expands

How Forceful

to hurl

53 3.6

to heave

35 3.9

to hoist

79 4.7

to lift

553 1.0

push

138 1.0

to nudge

33 3.8

Surface Forms

Etymology