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
In addition to individual shifts, the reorganization will add some heft to the chief of staff position by putting the Office of Communications and the Office of Strategic Planning under its umbrella. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 Its heft translates to incredible heat retention and evenly bakes pies with perfect bottom char. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
All of these have enough body and heft to stand up to the moisture from the pickles without turning watery in an hour or two. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026 DeCicca strikes just the right balance with his arrangements, giving Askew’s spare keyboard lines and deceptively casual melodies heft without overwhelming them. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 31 July 2026 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 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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