View synonyms for

heaving

[ hee-ving ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

rising and falling rhythmically or with a swelling motion, as ocean waves or the chest of someone breathing:
He ran down the slippery gangway to the heaving deck of the steamer.
characterized by surging or pulsing movement, as of a mass of people or vehicles:
When the opening chords of the song rang out, there was a stampede into the heaving mosh pit.
She discovered that even in a heaving metropolis it is possible to live in symbiosis with nature.
(of breathing, a sigh, etc.) performed with effort:
He felt dizzy from the quick, heaving breaths he was drawing.
She let out a heaving sigh and let the wrench clang to the floor.
rising as if thrust up by some force; swelling or bulging:
Emergency repairs are required on I-95 due to heaving asphalt caused by years of freezing and thawing.
vomiting or throwing up:
Whenever someone mentions motion sickness, I remember that three-hour car trip to Grandma's with a heaving child in the backseat.

noun

the act of rising as if thrust up by some force, or of rising and falling with a rhythmic swelling motion:
The only motion was the heaving of their chests as they stood still for a minute, catching their breath.
The heaving of sidewalks by tree roots often results when the planting strip is too narrow to accommodate the trees.
the act of performing a sigh, breath, etc., with effort:
It’s easy to be sympathetic when it costs no more than the shedding of a few tears, the heaving of a sigh, or the uttering of a soft word.
the act of lifting or throwing something with effort or force:
The heaving of garbage at a criminal in the stocks was common—and sometimes fatal.
His leadership was marked by a constant heaving of himself into the foremost position in every situation.
the act of vomiting or throwing up:
My numerous trips to the open bar were followed by some unfortunate heaving into a bucket.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of heaving¹

First recorded in 1575–85; heave ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; heave ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A once quiet dusty border town, it has turned into a transit hub, heaving with refugees from both Sudan and its neighbour to the south.

From

“No, you definitely did not,” I said, heaving while cowering from my Ivy League prince.

From

Although in a heaving square, he was more at risk of being mobbed by a battalion of dignitaries than people who had come to see him.

From

At a school where she leads thousands, she found herself very much alone, mouth open, chest heaving, crying and screaming again and again.

From

A heaving red brute froths and seethes behind a podium marked with the Presidential seal before tearing through the Rose Garden and leaving a swath of wreckage through the White House.

From

heavily Heaviside

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