heave
C1Neutral, with some technical use in nautical contexts; 'heave-ho' is informal.
Definition
Meaning
To lift or haul something heavy with great effort.
1) To make an effort to vomit. 2) To rise and fall rhythmically, like a wave or chest during heavy breathing. 3) To throw something heavy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a strenuous, upward or outward movement. In nautical use ('heave the anchor'), it's standard terminology. The vomiting sense is informal but common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. 'Heave in sight' is a somewhat dated nautical phrase more likely in UK historical contexts. The usage is very similar.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of physical effort in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in nautical/maritime contexts due to historical usage, but overall frequency is comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Heave + object (They heaved the crate onto the truck).Heave + object + prepositional phrase (She heaved the bag over the wall).Heave + intransitive (His chest heaved with emotion).Heave (vomit) (I nearly heaved when I saw it).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give (someone/something) the old heave-ho (to dismiss or discard)”
- “heave in sight (to come into view, especially of a ship)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used, except metaphorically ('The project was given the heave-ho').
Academic
Used in geology/geography ('frost heave'), engineering, and literature describing physical action.
Everyday
Common for describing lifting heavy objects, effortful breathing, or nausea.
Technical
Standard in nautical commands ('Heave to!'), and in geology/soil mechanics ('frost heave').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We all had to heave on the hawser to free the boat.
- The smell made her heave.
- After the climb, his shoulders were heaving.
American English
- They heaved the sofa up the stairs.
- I thought I was going to heave my breakfast.
- The ground heaved during the earthquake.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjectival form. 'Heaving' is a participle adjective: 'a heaving mass of people').
American English
- N/A (No standard adjectival form. 'Heaving' is a participle adjective: 'the heaving deck').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They heaved the big box into the car.
- The sea heaves gently.
- With a final heave, they got the wardrobe through the door.
- He heaved a sigh of relief when the exam was over.
- The crew heaved on the lines to raise the sail.
- Her stomach heaved at the thought of eating more.
- The landscape heaved and buckled during the tectonic shift.
- After years of poor performance, the manager was given the heave-ho.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HEAVy object that you have to HEAVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION/DIFFICULTY IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (Heave a sigh of relief; heave under the pressure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to have'.
- The nautical/physical 'heave' is best translated as 'напряжённо поднимать/тащить'.
- The vomiting sense is 'тошнить', not a direct translation of Russian 'рвать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'heave' for light, easy movements (incorrect: *Heave the pen to me).
- Confusing spelling: 'heave' vs. 'heavy'.
- Using the wrong preposition (correct: 'heave *on* the rope', not 'heave *at* the rope' for pulling).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'heave' used informally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but often implies physical effort. It is formal in specific technical contexts like nautical commands or geology.
'Heave' emphasizes great effort, often in lifting *and* moving. 'Lift' is more general. 'Throw' implies propulsion through the air, which 'heave' can also mean, but again with a sense of heaviness and effort.
Yes, reflexively: 'He heaved himself out of the chair.' It can also describe a crowd: 'The heaving masses at the concert.'
It's an exclamation ('heave-ho!') used when pulling or lifting together. As a noun ('the heave-ho'), it means dismissal or rejection.