heaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "heaving" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use the verb "heave" to refer to the act of lifting or raising something heavy with great effort, or to describe an area or surface that rises and falls in an uneven or powerful manner. For example, "We heaved the heavy boxes up the stairs with great difficulty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A week or so ago, when there was a weeny temperate gap in the Arctic spring, I noticed that the pond was heaving with froggies, with one clump of them clinging to a white thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Despite its slightly naff name it was heaving with trendy locals, and no wonder as the food turned out to be fantastic: wonderful fried artichokes, seafood pasta and delicious pizza.

The Guardian - Travel

In with more than half the overs gone and still over 100 to get, he rode his luck, hit the bad ball to the boundary (and some good ones too) and delivered the win for his team in the cauldron of Headingley, heaving for the Roses Match, if not the Test Match.

The Guardian - Sport

Further up the road, the stylish cafes and restaurants that have opened in the past two years are heaving: a Brooklyn-style crab joint, a pseudo-English pub named "Cockneys", various bohemian bars, and a shop staffed by bobble-hatted hipsters that sells luxury Japanese toothbrushes and artisanal bread.

The Guardian

I walked into The Boot Inn and it was heaving – there were about 100 people in there in the middle of June on a Tuesday.

The Guardian

But of course you will gravitate to the beach, where the bars and watersports concessionaires stand shoulder to shoulder beneath the palms, humming by day and then heaving by night – particularly on Friday and Saturday.

The Guardian - Travel

There was a great, heaving, sweaty, heap of tired bodies, issues, and cliches.

The Guardian

The coastline around Cape Town is heaving with excellent (and affordable) restaurants, most with great views - mountains behind, bays curving around you, long beaches and wildlife seemingly unbothered by your presence.

The Guardian - Travel

On August 19th it banned the import through airports of duty-free flat-screen TVs, which Indians can often be seen heaving through check-in at Dubai.

The Economist

Mr Djindjic, whose government was not up for election, is heaving a sigh of relief.

The Economist

But by mid-week bank supervisors across Europe (hardly a sanguine lot at the best of times) were heaving a collective sigh of relief.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heaving" to vividly describe places full of people or things, or to depict the physical exertion of lifting something heavy. This adds dynamism to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "heaving" to describe static scenes or objects without any implied movement or crowding. It's best suited for dynamic situations where there's either physical exertion or a large number of entities involved.

Linguistic Context

The word "heaving" functions primarily as a verb, either in its present participle form describing an ongoing action (e.g., "the sea was heaving") or as a gerund acting as a noun (e.g., "the heaving of the crowd"). As Ludwig AI explains, it can indicate physical exertion or a place being crowded.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heaving" is a versatile word primarily used as a verb, to describe something crowded, exerting physical effort, or in a state of emotional upheaval. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in various writing contexts. While predominantly neutral in register, its vivid imagery makes it effective in describing dynamic scenes. It is commonly found in "News & Media". Be mindful of using "heaving" in contexts where it implies action or crowding, as misuse can lead to inaccurate depictions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crowded

Focuses on the state of being full or packed, similar to one sense of "heaving".

packed

Emphasizes the density of people or objects in a space, like a place "heaving" with activity.

surging

Highlights the forceful movement or increase, akin to "heaving" with waves or crowds.

swarming

Suggests a large group moving in a concentrated manner, as when a place is "heaving" with people.

lifting

Focuses on the act of raising something heavy, relating to one literal meaning of "heaving".

raising

Similar to "lifting", but can also imply emotional or moral elevation, if the context involves "heaving" a sigh.

puffing

Highlights the physical exertion and heavy breathing, applicable when "heaving" refers to physical effort.

gasping

Emphasizes the difficulty in breathing, similar to the respiratory aspect of "heaving".

retching

Specifically relates to the physical act of vomiting, which is one possible (though less common) meaning of "heaving".

sighing

Implies a deep breath expressing relief or sadness, connecting to the emotional release implied by "heaving" a sigh.

FAQs

How can I use "heaving" in a sentence?

You can use "heaving" to describe a crowded place, like "The market was "crowded" and "bustling", "heaving" with shoppers", or to describe lifting something heavy, such as "He was "straining" and "struggling", "heaving" the box onto the truck".

What are some synonyms for "heaving" when describing a crowd?

When describing a crowd, you could use synonyms like "packed", "teeming", "swarming", or "thronged". These alternatives capture the sense of a place being full of people.

Can "heaving" be used to describe emotions?

Yes, "heaving" can describe emotions, particularly in the context of "heaving a sigh", which implies a deep breath expressing relief, exhaustion, or sadness. It can also describe someone crying, with their shoulders "heaving" with sobs.

What's the difference between "heaving" and "lifting"?

"Heaving" implies lifting something heavy with great effort, often accompanied by strain or difficulty. "Lifting" is a more general term that simply means raising something, without necessarily implying the same level of exertion.