heaving
/ˈhiːvɪŋ/adjective, noun, verb
heaving is spelled H-E-A-V-I-N-G: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,320th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, heaving means “Crowded with people” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in heaving?
| Letters | 7: H-E-A-V-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 35,320th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is heaving?
Heaving appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,320th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce heaving?
- /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
Heaving has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-heaving.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of heaving
- more heaving comparative
- most heaving superlative
- heavings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does heaving mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
informalCrowded with people.
- 2
Of the chest, rising and falling noticeably from exertion, emotion, or laboured breathing.
- 3
Of the bosom, full, ample, or voluptuous in form, irrespective of movement.
noun
- 1
An occasion on which something heaves or is heaved.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of heave
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does heaving come from?
Inherited from Middle English hevynge. By surface analysis, heave + -ing. See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).