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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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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

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

How to use helluva in a sentence

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you which one I like more, though I will say that the lamb shank, with its protruding bone, makes for one helluva Instagram post.
Marhaba’s stellar Middle Eastern cooking deserves a permanent spot at Tysons Corner Center|Tim Carman|October 18, 2021|Washington Post
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