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to heft

to heft

7 7.2
To lift something to judge how heavy it is
  • verb
  • /hɛft/
translation icon : sopesar
  • He hefted the suitcase to see if it was too heavy to carry.
  • hefted the bag
  • hefted his axe
  • hefted a pack

Examples

  • "I'll do that right now," he said uncertainly, and hefted the bag over one shoulder.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Utah doesn't move to stop him as he stands, hefting the longboard.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Notice how I sort of... I keep hefting it?

  • - I'm not hefting gold bars around.

  • The Indian presented it, and Fagin hefted the thing and turned it over in his hands.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • You can have your breakfast first. Adam took the notebook and hefted it in his hand, smiling.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Suddenly, Anna la-de-dahs into the apartment, hefting up two big grocery bags.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Cutter pays the driver, hefts his bag, and enters the building.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The priest tossed the gun to Mikhail, who hefted the weapon and smiled.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Jacob clasped him hard by the legs and hefted him into the dark storage attic of the Thieste building.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to weigh
vsto heft
432 1.0

To measure how heavy something is

is done by lifting to estimate weight rather than measuring precisely
to heave
vsto heft
35 3.9

To lift or pull something heavy with effort

is about judging weight by lifting rather than moving heavy objects forcefully
to heave up
vsto heft
  • Informal
3 4.5

To lift something heavy with a lot of effort

is performed to judge weight rather than apply force
to heft up
vsto heft
  • Informal
1 6.1

To lift something with effort to see how heavy it is

is done mainly to judge weight rather than to use force

Antonyms

802 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

Phrasal Verbs

to heft up
  • Informal
1 6.1

To lift something with effort to see how heavy it is

How Forceful

to heave
35 3.9
to hoist
79 4.7
to lift
553 1.0
to heft
7 7.2
to pick up
834 1.0

Surface Forms

heft infinitive
hefted past
hefted past participle
hefting present participle
hefts third person singular

Etymology

Heft as a verb comes from the old idea of lifting something to judge how heavy it is; think of the similar words heave and heavy, because to 'heft' is to lift something to 'try its weight'.