How to Pronounce Heaves

To pronounce "heaves", say HEAV-es — 2 syllables, IPA /hiːvz/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

heaves

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/hiːvz/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “heaves”

"heaves" has 2 syllables: heav-es. It rhymes with believes and leaves, if that helps it stick.

What does heaves mean?

noun

  1. An effort to raise something, such as a weight or one's own body, or to move something heavy.
  2. An upward motion; a rising; a swell or distention, as of the breast in difficult breathing, of the waves, of the earth in an earthquake, etc.

verb

  1. To lift with difficulty; to raise with some effort; to lift (a heavy thing).

    “We heaved the chest-of-drawers on to the second-floor landing.”

  2. To throw, cast.

    “The cap'n hove the body overboard.”

noun

  1. A period of retching.

    “I have the dry heaves, I rather just throw up and get it over with.”

  2. A disease of horses characterized by coughing and difficult breathing; broken wind.

Words that rhyme with heaves

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

believesleavessheavespeevesperceivesthievesinterleavescleavesevesrelievesretrievesachieves

Related words

hurlretchchunderinghauchhuffqualmpukefestwambling

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "heaves"?▾

"Heaves" has 2 syllables: heav · es.

What is the IPA transcription of "heaves"?▾

The IPA transcription of "heaves" is /hiːvz/.

What does "heaves" mean?▾

Heaves: An effort to raise something, such as a weight or one's own body, or to move something heavy.

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