heaven

[ hev-uhn ]

noun

1. the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.
2. (initial capital letter) Often Heavens. the celestial powers; God.
3. a metonym for God:

   May heaven help us!

4. heavens, (used with a singular verb) a wooden roof or canopy over the outer stage of an Elizabethan theater.
5. Usually heavens. the sky, firmament, or expanse of space surrounding the earth.
6. a place or state of supreme happiness:

   She made his life a heaven on earth.

interjection

1. heavens, (used to express emphasis, surprise, etc.):

   For heaven's sake!

   Good heavens!

heaven

/ ˈhɛvən /

noun

1. sometimes capital Christianity
   1. the abode of God and the angels
   2. a place or state of communion with God after death Compare hell
2. usually plural the sky, firmament or space surrounding the earth
3. (in any of various mythologies) a place, such as Elysium or Valhalla, to which those who have died in the gods' favour are brought to dwell in happiness
4. a place or state of joy and happiness
5. singularorplural; sometimes capital God or the gods, used in exclamatory phrases of surprise, exasperation, etc

   for heaven's sake

   heavens above

6. in seventh heaven
   ecstatically happy
7. move heaven and earth
   to do everything possible (to achieve something)

heaven

1. The dwelling place of God, the angels , and the souls of those who have gained salvation (see also salvation ); a place of the greatest peace and beauty. ( Compare hell .)

Other Words From

• heaven·less adjective
• under·heaven noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heaven¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English heven, Old English heofon; cognate with Middle Low German heven; akin to Old Norse himinn, Gothic himins, German Himmel

Word History and Origins

Origin of heaven¹

Old English heofon; related to Old Saxon heban

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. move heaven and earth, to do one's utmost to effect an end; make a supreme effort:

   She promised to move heaven and earth to be there for our wedding anniversary.

More idioms and phrases containing heaven

• for one's (heaven's) sake
• god (heaven) forbid
• god (heaven) knows
• in seventh heaven
• in the name of (heaven)
• manna from heaven
• move heaven and earth
• pennies from heaven
• seventh heaven
• stink to high heaven
• thank god (heaven)

Example Sentences

He’s one of baseball’s best young players, he raked the Dodgers for a 1.084 OPS in the World Series, he was everything Aaron Judge was not, and heaven knows the Dodgers can afford him.

From Los Angeles Times

Samantha, who is pregnant, and Ryan are victims of a scam website which has left dozens of people looking at an empty farmer's field instead of views of the heavens.

From BBC

My ride companion, The Times’ senior editor for video Mark Potts, remarked that it felt like going up to heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

When he arrived bringing in half of his Oklahoma team with him, including a Heisman quarterback, and went 11-3 in his first year, I’m sure Trojan fans were in seventh heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

Although now retired, he is desperate for the case to be solved: "We need to know what happened to Lindsay. No matter how insignificant, if someone knows something, for heaven's sake come forward."

From BBC

Related Words

• immortality
• nirvana
• paradise
• Promised Land