- (also Heaven)[uncountable] (used without the) (in some religions) the place believed to be the home of God where good people go when they die, sometimes imagined to be in the sky
- the kingdom of heaven
- I feel like I've died and gone to heaven.
- in heaven I told her Daddy was in heaven with God.
- Our child seemed a gift from heaven.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + heaven- ascend to
- go to
- from heaven
- in heaven
- the kingdom of heaven
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- [uncountable, countable] (informal) a place or situation in which you are very happy
- This isn't exactly my idea of heaven!
- in heaven Shopping is my favourite pastime, so I was in heaven.
- it is heaven doing something It was heaven being away from the office for a week.
- The island is truly a heaven on earth.
- heaven for somebody Tasmania is heaven for hikers and campers.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsb2- It was sheer heaven being alone at last.
- The kids were in absolute heaven at the fair.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- pure
- sheer
- …
- in heaven
- a heaven on earth
- somebody’s idea of heaven
- the heavens[plural] (literary) the sky
- Four tall trees stretched up to the heavens.
Word OriginOld English heofon, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hemel and German Himmel.
Idioms
See heaven in the Oxford Advanced American DictionaryGod | God almighty | God in heaven | good God | my God | oh (dear) God
- (informal) used to emphasize what you are saying when you are surprised, shocked or annoyed
- God, what a stupid thing to do!
God/Heaven forbid (that…)
- (informal) used to say that you hope that something will not happen
- ‘Maybe you'll end up as a lawyer, like me.’ ‘God forbid!’
God/Heaven help somebody
- (informal) used to say that you are afraid somebody will be in danger or that something bad will happen to them
- God help us if this doesn't work.
God/goodness/Heaven knows (informal) Some people may find this use of God offensive.
- used to emphasize that you do not know something
- God knows what else they might find.
- ‘Where are they?’ ‘Goodness knows.’
- used to emphasize the truth of what you are saying
- She ought to pass the exam—goodness knows she's been working hard enough.
Heaven/God forfend (that)…
- (humorous or old use) used to say that you are frightened of the idea of something happening
- Heaven forfend that students are encouraged to think!
(Good) Heavens! | Heavens above!
- (informal) used to show that you are surprised or annoyed
- Good heavens, what are you doing?
the heavens open
- it begins to rain heavily
- All at once the heavens opened and everyone rushed for cover.
in God’s/Heaven’s name | in the name of God/Heaven
- used especially in questions to show that you are angry, surprised or shocked
- What in God's name was that noise?
- Where in the name of Heaven have you been?
in seventh heaven
- extremely happy
- Now that he's been promoted he's in seventh heaven.
made in heaven
- (especially of a marriage or other relationship) seeming to be perfect
- Everyone thought that theirs was a marriage made in heaven.
move heaven and earth
- to do everything you possibly can in order to achieve somethingTopics Successc2
smell, stink, etc. to high heaven (informal)
- to have a strong unpleasant smell
- to seem to be very dishonest or morally unacceptable
thank God/goodness/heaven(s) (for something)
- used to say that you are pleased about something
- Thank God you're safe!
- ‘Thank goodness for that!’ she said with a sigh of relief.
- Thank heavens I've found my keys.
to God/goodness/Heaven
- used after a verb to emphasize a particular hope, wish, etc.
- I wish to God you'd learn to pay attention!
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