heaven

[ hev-uhn ]

See synonyms for heaven on Thesaurus.com

noun

the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.
(initial capital letter)Often Heavens . the celestial powers; God.

a metonym for God: May heaven help us!
heavens, (used with a singular verb) a wooden roof or canopy over the outer stage of an Elizabethan theater.
Usually heavens. the sky, firmament, or expanse of space surrounding the earth.
a place or state of supreme happiness: She made his life a heaven on earth.

interjection

heavens, (used to express emphasis, surprise, etc.): For heaven's sake!Good heavens!

Idioms about heaven

move heaven and earth, to do one's utmost to effect an end; make a supreme effort: She promised to move heaven and earth to be there for our wedding anniversary.

Origin of heaven

before 900; Middle English heven,Old English heofon; cognate with Middle Low German heven; akin to Old Norse himinn,Gothic himins,German Himmel

Other words from heaven

heav·en·less, adjective
un·der·heav·en, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use heaven in a sentence

They will do it,” Revels declared, “as certainly as the sun shines in the heavens.
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate | Philip Dray | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Reagan later told a reporter that his pilot followed the mysterious light before it suddenly “shot up into the heavens.”
1980: America’s First Extraterrestrial Election | | October 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Richard Branson and Elon Musk have taken very different paths in their race to the heavens.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded | Clive Irving | October 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But miraculously they must float in the heavens so far away from us, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever.
Billy Crystal's Tribute to Robin Williams at the Emmys Was Perfect | Kevin Fallon | August 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Despite the rapid growth, Bhutan is still trying to keep its traditions alive and preserve the heavens for generations to come.
Can Traditional Bhutan Survive Tourism? | Esha Chhabra | August 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The world may end, the heavens fall, yet loving voices would still find an echo in the ruins of the universe.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou
Under all man's dreams of eternal gods and eternal heavens lies man's passion for the eternal feminine.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
You may look again and again, and see millions of suns and systems spread out across the heavens like rivers of living gems.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
The shell question is serious although, in this respect, thank Heavens, the French are quite well found.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
The long dry fingers of the palm trees rattled overhead, and looking up, he saw the divine light of the starry heavens.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for heaven

heaven

/ (ˈhɛvən) /

noun

(sometimes capital) Christianity
- the abode of God and the angels
- a place or state of communion with God after death: Compare hell
(usually plural) the sky, firmament or space surrounding the earth

(in any of various mythologies) a place, such as Elysium or Valhalla, to which those who have died in the gods' favour are brought to dwell in happiness
a place or state of joy and happiness
(singular or plural; sometimes capital) God or the gods, used in exclamatory phrases of surprise, exasperation, etc: for heaven's sake; heavens above
in seventh heaven ecstatically happy
move heaven and earth to do everything possible (to achieve something)

Origin of heaven

Old English heofon; related to Old Saxon heban

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for heaven

heaven

The dwelling place of God, the angels, and the souls of those who have gained salvation (see also salvation); a place of the greatest peace and beauty. (Compare hell.)

Other Idioms and Phrases with heaven

heaven

In addition to the idioms beginning with heaven

heaven knows
heavenly days

also see:

for one's (heaven's) sake
god (heaven) forbid
god (heaven) knows
in seventh heaven
in the name of (heaven)
manna from heaven
move heaven and earth
pennies from heaven
seventh heaven
stink to high heaven
thank god (heaven)

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