- 1[transitive, intransitive] to lift, pull, or throw someone or something very heavy with one great effort heave something/somebody/yourself + adv./prep. I managed to heave the suitcase into the trunk of the car. They heaved the body overboard. He heaved himself out of his armchair. + adv./prep. We all heaved on the rope. Heave away lads!
- 2[intransitive] to rise up and down with strong, regular movements The boat heaved beneath them. heave with something Her shoulders heaved with suppressed laughter.
- 3[transitive] heave a sigh, etc. to make a sound slowly and often with effort We all heaved a sigh of relief. She heaved a long sigh.
- 4[intransitive] to experience the tight feeling in your stomach that you get before you vomit The thought of it makes me heave. His stomach heaved. Idioms
heave
verbNAmE//hiv//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they heave he / she / it heaves
past simple heaved
-ing form heaving
(especially of ships) to appear, especially when moving gradually closer from a long way off A ship hove into sight. Like a galleon in full sail, Cara hove into view. Hove is usually used for the past tense and past participle in this idiom. Phrasal Verbsheave to
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