- present participle of heave.
heaving
Americanadjective
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of heaving
First recorded in 1575–85; heave ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; heave ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He then must use a wheelbarrow to get it to his home before heaving it up a flight of stairs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Even Jofra Archer got involved, heaving two sixes of his own.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
The place was heaving with devotees, hands clasped at their chests and lips moving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
By this point I'm starting to look like an extra in a low-budget Star Wars parody – and we are definitely the pre-match entertainment in a pub which is now heaving.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
He could also see that Canton's chest was pumping, heaving like it was hard for him to breathe.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
