- rising and falling rhythmically or with a swelling motion, as ocean waves or the chest of someone breathing: He ran down the slippery gangway to the heaving deck of the steamer.
- characterized by surging or pulsing movement, as of a mass of people or vehicles: When the opening chords of the song rang out, there was a stampede into the heaving mosh pit.She discovered that even in a heaving metropolis it is possible to live in symbiosis with nature.
- (of breathing, a sigh, etc.) performed with effort: He felt dizzy from the quick, heaving breaths he was drawing.She let out a heaving sigh and let the wrench clang to the floor.
- rising as if thrust up by some force; swelling or bulging: Emergency repairs are required on I-95 due to heaving asphalt caused by years of freezing and thawing.
- vomiting or throwing up: Whenever someone mentions motion sickness, I remember that three-hour car trip to Grandma's with a heaving child in the backseat.
- the act of rising as if thrust up by some force, or of rising and falling with a rhythmic swelling motion: The only motion was the heaving of their chests as they stood still for a minute, catching their breath.The heaving of sidewalks by tree roots often results when the planting strip is too narrow to accommodate the trees.
- the act of performing a sigh, breath, etc., with effort: It’s easy to be sympathetic when it costs no more than the shedding of a few tears, the heaving of a sigh, or the uttering of a soft word.
- the act of lifting or throwing something with effort or force: The heaving of garbage at a criminal in the stocks was common—and sometimes fatal.His leadership was marked by a constant heaving of himself into the foremost position in every situation.
- the act of vomiting or throwing up: My numerous trips to the open bar were followed by some unfortunate heaving into a bucket.
