heaving

[ hee-ving ]

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. (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.

4. 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.

5. 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. the act of vomiting or throwing up:

   My numerous trips to the open bar were followed by some unfortunate heaving into a bucket.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heaving¹

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

By then, however, Maryland had no time for anything more meaningful than a failed full-court heave.

From Washington Post

For the second week in a row, Pittsburgh survived a last-snap heave into the end zone by the opposing quarterback that would have won the game.

From Washington Post

Knocked cold, Lakpa collapsed on the rocks, heaving in convulsions, Kodas wrote.

From The Daily Beast

The pilot episode opens with Jacob (Landon Gimenez) waking up, heaving, in a field in a China.

From The Daily Beast

Congress is heaving a sigh of relief over a reported deal to avert a default—but the crisis is nowhere near ended.

From The Daily Beast

A heaving sea of female desire rages around 1D, and Harry in particular.

From The Daily Beast

To see the dinosaur in the flesh—it was so realistic—I could see its fangs heaving, I could see its eyes watering.

From The Daily Beast

She craned forward, the smile gone from her lips, a horror in her eyes, her bosom heaving.

From Project Gutenberg

She stood before him with lowered eyelids, her bosom heaving still from the agitation of fear his closeness had aroused in her.

From Project Gutenberg

In the midst of its heaving waters he quickly arose flinging his long arms wildly about, and shouting for help with bubbling cry.

From Project Gutenberg

Newton made no answer, and Jackson went forward, where the remainder of the crew were heaving up the anchor with the windlass.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes I catch myself heaving a sigh for the old man that's dead, and saying to myself, "That was a great life yonder."

From Project Gutenberg