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heave to

British

verb

Also: lay to. (adverb) to stop (a vessel) or (of a vessel) to stop, as by trimming the sails, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Seattle trailed 12-7 when quarterback Russell Wilson unleashed a desperate heave to the end zone in the final seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Atkinson cleared his front leg again, attempting another heave to the leg side, but Siraj's yorker was pinpoint.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025

Ramsey picked off Wilson’s long heave to the end zone on Denver’s opening drive of the second half.

From Washington Times • Dec. 25, 2022

“He’s either got to heave to 100% or he’s gone,” Bannon said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2022

At six bells of a forenoon watch, Nat said, “Mr. Denny, heave to for soundings.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023