heft

1 of 2

noun

ˈheft How to pronounce heft (audio)
Synonyms of heft
1
a
: weight, heaviness
needed a hammer with more heft
b
: importance, influence
… this bipartisan group may provide the needed heft to get a … bill through the Senate this session.—Katharine Q. Seelye
2
archaic : the greater part of something : bulk

heft

2 of 2

verb

hefted; hefting; hefts

transitive verb

1
: to heave up : hoist
2
: to test the weight of by lifting
… hefting the rod … to get the feel of it …—Consumer Reports

Synonyms of heft

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of heft in a Sentence

Noun the heft of a good hammer some synthetic fabrics are nice and warm, but I prefer wool because it has more heft Verb hefted his growing son onto his shoulders heft your baggy gym shorts a little higher—you're showing us more than we care to see
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Lentils add some heft to a classic shrimp salad in this weeknight-friendly dish. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026 One, can these businesses stand alone and have the heft to stand alone as separate companies? — Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 June 2026
Verb
But hefting one around can be like putting a brick in your pocket. — New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2026 Here in our yards, long years of earth have been hefted by hand and heaped up on tarps. — Steven Searcy, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heft

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from heave, after such pairs as weave : weft

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heft was in the 15th century

Rhymes for heft

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Browse Nearby Words

Hefner candle
heft
hefter
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Cite this Entry

“Heft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heft. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

heft

2 of 2 verb
1
: to heave up : lift
2
: to test the weight of by lifting

More from Merriam-Webster on heft

Nglish: Translation of heft for Spanish Speakers

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