heav·en
Pronounced:
/ˈhɛvən/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural heav·ensMeaning:
1 or Heaven [singular] : the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions ▪ She prayed to God in Heaven. ▪ He hopes to go to Heaven when he dies. ▪ Our baby is a gift from heaven.
2 [noncount] : something that is very pleasant or good ▪ The week at the beach was (sheer/pure) heaven. ▪ (chiefly US) The cake tastes like heaven. [=it is delicious] ▪ Her voice sounded like heaven. [=it sounded very beautiful]
3 the heavens : the sky ▪ the brightest star in the heavens ▪ The heavens opened (up) [=it began to rain] and the game had to be stopped.
4 —used informally by itself and in phrases to make a statement or question more forceful or to express surprise, anger, etc. ▪ “Have you ever committed a crime?” “Heavens, no!” ▪ Good heavens! You startled me. ▪ Heaven's above, I haven't seen you in a while. ▪ My heavens, [=(more commonly) my goodness] you've grown! ▪ Who in heaven's name [=on earth, in God's name] could that be? ▪ Where in heaven's name have you been? ▪ For heaven's sake, turn down that music!
2 [noncount] : something that is very pleasant or good ▪ The week at the beach was (sheer/pure) heaven. ▪ (chiefly US) The cake tastes like heaven. [=it is delicious] ▪ Her voice sounded like heaven. [=it sounded very beautiful]
3 the heavens : the sky ▪ the brightest star in the heavens ▪ The heavens opened (up) [=it began to rain] and the game had to be stopped.
4 —used informally by itself and in phrases to make a statement or question more forceful or to express surprise, anger, etc. ▪ “Have you ever committed a crime?” “Heavens, no!” ▪ Good heavens! You startled me. ▪ Heaven's above, I haven't seen you in a while. ▪ My heavens, [=(more commonly) my goodness] you've grown! ▪ Who in heaven's name [=on earth, in God's name] could that be? ▪ Where in heaven's name have you been? ▪ For heaven's sake, turn down that music!
(a) heaven on earth
: a very pleasant or enjoyable place or situation ▪ We spent our vacation in a real heaven on earth. ▪ The time we spent together was heaven on earth.
heaven forbid —see forbid
heaven help someone —see 1help
heaven knows —see 1know
made in heaven
: very good and successful ▪ Theirs was a marriage made in heaven. ▪ Our partnership is a match made in heaven.
move heaven and earth —see 1move
thank heaven/heavens —see thank
to high heaven
informal : very much, very badly, etc. ▪ The kids were laughing and screaming to high heaven. [=very loudly] ▪ This whole situation stinks to high heaven. [=it stinks; it is very bad or wrong]
—see also hog heaven, seventh heaven