heaven

[hev-uh n]

See more 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

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

Related formsheav·en·less, adjectiveun·der·heav·en, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for heavens

Contemporary Examples

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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples

They studied the heavens and named the twelve signs of the Zodiak.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
I did not know what to make of my life because the Holder of the Heavens had not revealed himself to me.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
I had the power of a Shaman, though the Holder of the Heavens had not yet spoken to me.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
That is how it is when the Holder of the Heavens shows Himself to his children.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
Heavens, that was seven days, and every day had at least sixteen waking hours.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for heavens

heaven

noun

(sometimes capital) Christianity
1. the abode of God and the angels
2. a place or state of communion with God after deathCompare 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, etcfor heaven's sake; heavens above
in seventh heaven ecstatically happy
move heaven and earth to do everything possible (to achieve something)

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for heavens

n.

"realm of the heavenly bodies," 1670s, from heaven.

heaven

n.

Old English heofon "home of God," earlier "sky, firmament," probably from Proto-Germanic *hibin-, dissimilated from *himin- (cf. Low German heben, Old Norse himinn, Gothic himins, Old Frisian himul, Dutch hemel, German Himmel "heaven, sky"), perhaps from PIE root *kem-/*kam- "to cover" (cf. chemise). [Watkins derives it elaborately from PIE *ak- "sharp" via *akman- "stone, sharp stone," then "stony vault of heaven"].

Plural use in sense of "sky" is probably from Ptolemaic theory of space composed of many spheres, but it also formerly was used in the same sense as the singular in Biblical language, as a translation of Hebrew plural shamayim. Heaven-sent (adj.) attested from 1640s.

heavens in Culture

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.)

Idioms and Phrases with heavens

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)

heaven

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Examples from the Web for heavens

Contemporary Examples

They will do it,” Revels declared, “as certainly as the sun shines in the heavens.

Reagan later told a reporter that his pilot followed the mysterious light before it suddenly “shot up into the heavens.”

Richard Branson and Elon Musk have taken very different paths in their race to the heavens.

But miraculously they must float in the heavens so far away from us, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever.

Despite the rapid growth, Bhutan is still trying to keep its traditions alive and preserve the heavens for generations to come.

Historical Examples

They studied the heavens and named the twelve signs of the Zodiak.

I did not know what to make of my life because the Holder of the Heavens had not revealed himself to me.

I had the power of a Shaman, though the Holder of the Heavens had not yet spoken to me.

That is how it is when the Holder of the Heavens shows Himself to his children.

Heavens, that was seven days, and every day had at least sixteen waking hours.

heaven

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for heavens

n.

heaven

n.

heaven

Idioms and Phrases with heavens

heaven

Origin of heaven