Heave
/hiːv/
Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Scrabble:11 ptsWWF:11 pts5 letters
Definition of Heave
noun
- An effort to raise something, such as a weight or one's own body, or to move something heavy.
- An upward motion; a rising; a swell or distention, as of the breast in difficult breathing, of the waves, of the earth in an earthquake, etc.
- A horizontal dislocation in a metallic lode, taking place at an intersection with another lode.
- The measure of extent to which a nautical vessel goes up and down in a short period of time. Compare pitch.
- An effort to vomit; retching.
verb
- To lift with difficulty; to raise with some effort; to lift (a heavy thing).
"We heaved the chest-of-drawers on to the second-floor landing."
- To throw, cast.
"The cap'n hove the body overboard."
- To rise and fall.
"Her chest heaved with emotion."
- To utter with effort.
"She heaved a sigh and stared out of the window."
- To pull up with a rope or cable.
"Heave up the anchor there, boys!"