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View synonyms for

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. (used with a singular verb)heavens, 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

/ ˈɛə /

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. God or the gods, used in exclamatory phrases of surprise, exasperation, etc

    for heaven's sake

    heavens above

  6. ecstatically happy

  7. to do everything possible (to achieve something)

“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

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.)

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Other Word Forms

  • heavenless adjective
  • underheaven noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of heaven1

Old English heofon; related to Old Saxon heban
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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.

In addition to the idioms beginning with heaven, also see 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).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It felt like the gates of heaven were opening for me,” she recalls thinking after landing in Los Altos.

From

For more than a quarter century, director Kevin Smith has tried to resurrect “Dogma,” his religious satire about two fallen angels looking to get back into heaven.

From

“We’re not going to heaven, but this is close enough,” another wrote.

From

Noyes believed he had himself become perfect, meaning free of sin, and he declared one day that their community was heaven on earth.

From

Rationalization is not negotiation, and I can promise that you can't get into Catholic heaven disrespecting its fundamental rules.

From

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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heave into sightheaven-born