dry heave

Or dry-heave

[drahy heev]

verb (used without object)

1. to make an involuntary effort to vomit, but without bringing anything up; retch.

   I dry heave every time I think back to that awful incident.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry heave¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Related Words

• eject 
• gag 
• heave 
• regurgitate