heap

[heep]

noun

1. a group of things placed, thrown, or lying one on another; pile.

   a heap of stones.

   Synonyms: collection, accumulation, stack, mass

2. Informal.,  a great quantity or number; multitude.

   a heap of people.

3. Slang.,  an automobile, especially a dilapidated one.

verb (used with object)

1. to gather, put, or cast in a heap; pile (often followed by up, on, together, etc.).

2. to accumulate or amass (often followed by up ortogether ).

   to heap up riches.

3. to give, assign, or bestow in great quantity; load (often followed by on orupon ).

   to heap blessings upon someone; to heap someone with work.

4. to load, supply, or fill abundantly.

   to heap a plate with food.

verb (used without object)

1. to become heaped or piled, as sand or snow; rise in a heap or heaps (often followed byup ).

heap

/ hiːp /

noun

1. a collection of articles or mass of material gathered together in one place

2. informal,  a large number or quantity

3. slang,  to contend strenuously with an opposing sporting team

4. slang,  to try very hard

5. informal,  a place or thing that is very old, untidy, unreliable, etc

   the car was a heap

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   he said he was feeling heaps better

verb

1. to collect or be collected into or as if into a heap or pile

   to heap up wealth

2. (tr; often foll by with, on, or upon) to load or supply (with) abundantly

   to heap with riches

Other Word Forms

• heaper noun
• heapy adjective
• overheap verb (used with object)
• unheaped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heap¹

First recorded before 900; 1925–30 heap for def. 3; Middle English heep, Old English hēap; cognate with Dutch hoop, Old High German houf; akin to German Haufe

Word History and Origins

Origin of heap¹

Old English héap; related to Old Frisian hāp, Old Saxon hōp, Old High German houf

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. all of a heap,

   1. overwhelmed with astonishment; amazed.

      We were struck all of a heap upon hearing of their divorce.

   2. suddenly; abruptly;

      All of a heap the room was empty.

Example Sentences

Walking in New York City, he noted a basket of living turtles “dry as a heap of old bones in the sun.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The richest team in baseball is splitting apart at the seams, tearing under stress, fraying beyond recognition, collecting on the floor of the 2025 season in heaping piles of disappointment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The richest team in baseball is splitting apart at the seams, tearing under stress, fraying beyond recognition, collecting on the floor of the 2025 baseball season in heaping piles of disappointment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then, while standing aboard a U.S. warship docked near Tokyo, he heaped praise on new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her plans to sharply boost military spending.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"I have had heaps and heaps of comments and questions from people saying, I suffer from mental illness, I watch what you're doing and it's inspired me to get off the couch," he says.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bundle 
• clump 
• jumble 
• lump 
• stack 
• ton