HEAVE Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'heave' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of heave are boost , elevate , hoist , lift , raise , and rear . While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain. // heaved the heavy crate inside

Q: When might 'boost' be a better fit than 'heave'?

The synonyms boost and heave are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push. // boosted his brother over the fence

Q: How does the word 'elevate' relate to other synonyms for 'heave'?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied. // elevated the taste of the public

Q: When is 'hoist' a more appropriate choice than 'heave'?

The meanings of hoist and heave largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means. // hoisted the cargo on board

Q: Where would 'lift' be a reasonable alternative to 'heave'?

The words lift and heave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight. // lift the chair while I vacuum

Q: When can 'raise' be used instead of 'heave'?

The words raise and heave can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position. // scouts raising a flagpole

Q: How do 'rear' and 'raise' relate to one another, in the sense of 'heave'?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise . // suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

heave 1 of 2

verb

ˈhēv

Definition of heave

as in to hoist

to lift with effort I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to vomit

to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth heaved as soon as he stepped off the roller coaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm heaved the brick over the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to gasp

to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving

Synonyms & Similar Words

heave

2 of 2

noun

as in thrust

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Dissimilar Words

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How does the verb heave contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of heave are boost, elevate, hoist, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When might boost be a better fit than heave?

The synonyms boost and heave are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for heave?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When is hoist a more appropriate choice than heave?

The meanings of hoist and heave largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

Where would lift be a reasonable alternative to heave?

The words lift and heave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When can raise be used instead of heave?

The words raise and heave can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How do rear and raise relate to one another, in the sense of heave?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of heave

Verb

Eddie Williams was taking a merciless pounding against her planking as the sodden wreck heaved and rolled. — James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026 Rey lifted her hands from the floor and heaved the overstuffed pack closer, then tilted out the contents. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026

Noun

The Fever had one more chance, though, after Paige Bueckers missed two free throws, but the play was designed for Kelsey Mitchell, who narrowly missed a long heave that would have sent the game to overtime. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026 Next to it is a giant Goliath crane, which can lift up to 30,000 tons in a single heave; a gleaming white Royal Caribbean cruise ship sits just a few docks away. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave

Verb

Tiger Woods and Lawson Little are the only Stanford players to have hoisted the Havemeyer Trophy.

— Mercury News staff, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Broward Sheriff’s Office Air Rescue and Water Rescue responded and helped hoist one of the occupants out of the helicopter, according to Battalion Chief Michael Kane.

— Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of hoist

Verb

With their victory, Cameroon became just the fourth nation to lift the WAFCON trophy since 1998 and the third to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations (alongside Nigeria and South Africa).

— Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The rally powering the major averages this year has lifted small-cap stocks – and several also offer dividend income and the prospect for further gains.

— Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of lift

Verb

Back on the job the morning after the alert was lifted, Isidro threw a rope over an avocado tree about 20 feet (6 meters) high and climbed up.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
The quarterback who has thrown Allen the most passes during camp practices — Patrick Mahomes — spent his time Saturday standing on the sideline.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

The defense struggled a bit in the first half with the reserves on the field even after producing a second-quarter interception, and the offense also gasped and wheezed with the reserves on the field.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Police say Coffer was pulled to safety by his boat partner, who told police Simpson fled the scene and the boy was gasping for air.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of gasp

Verb

Kirk got the win with 5 1/3 innings to beat NorCal in the unofficial state title game in the region opener on Sunday, two days before Martinez hurled a complete-game one-hitter to beat Hawaii in the region semifinal.

— Dennis Pope, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
In the attack on Don Maca a few days later, one of the 20 crew members said the first blast hurled him into the air.

— Michael Rios, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurl

Verb

Residents in some of those markets continue to raise concerns about drone noise and privacy and how those issues could hurt property values.

— Annie Palmer, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Notably, Schwartzel was one of the few candidates in the race who was actually born and raised in the state.

— Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of raise

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heat wave

heave

heaved

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Style

“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of heave

verb

noun

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