helluva

[ hel-uh-vuh ]

/ ˈhɛl ə və /

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adjective, adverb Informal.

hell of a (used as an intensifier): We had a helluva time getting through the heavy traffic.She's a helluva good player!

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See also hell (def. 7), heck¹ (def. 2).

Origin of helluva

First recorded in 1915–20; a phonetic spelling representation of hell of a in continuous rapid speech

Words nearby helluva

Hell's Angel, hell's bells, Hells Canyon, Hell's Kitchen, hell to pay, helluva, hell week, helm, Helmand, helmer, helmet

How to use helluva in a sentence

All of this is too bad, because it means you almost certainly don’t know that crits are, in fact, a helluva lot of fun to watch.
Justin Williams Wants You to Care About Pro Cycling|Gloria Liu|April 12, 2021|Outside Online
Hosting the show really is the most thankless—and one of the most trying—jobs in showbiz, but DeGeneres did a helluva job.
Surprise! Ellen DeGeneres is the Best Oscars Host in a Decade|Marlow Stern|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This Congress has not instilled a helluva lot of confidence in the party,” says longtime consultant Mark Corallo.
The Governors Who Could Beat Christie|Michelle Cottle|November 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There are a helluva lot of reasons to cast aspersions on Mumford & Sons.
Mumford & Sons Rock Brooklyn’s Barclays Center|Marlow Stern|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST

To her credit, she did a helluva job—even premiering an unreleased Deadmau5 song.
Avicii, Superstar DJ, Hits Sundance|Marlow Stern|January 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
All things considered, Cheney remains convinced that he did a helluva job.
Dick Cheney Sounds Off on CIA Torture, Iraq, and More in New Sundance Documentary|Marlow Stern|January 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For a helluva long time you've answered nobody—though everyone in the Bunch must have tried beaming you.
The Planet Strappers|Raymond Zinke Gallun
But that would still be one helluva lot better than letting millions of acre feet just seep out to sea.
The Thirst Quenchers|Rick Raphael
Any missing telenizer equipment would cause a helluva fuss, and there hasn't been any fuss.
The Telenizer|Don Thompson
I ain't been downtown in—excuse me—such a helluva long time I don't know what it's like at all.
The Competitive Nephew|Montague Glass
You'll find yourself having one helluva time floating that loan you need next month.
Adaptation|Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for helluva

helluva

/ (ˈhɛləvə) /

adverb, adjective informal

(intensifier)a helluva difficult job; he's a helluva guy

Southern African (intensifier)it's helluva tough out here

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