heft

UK: /hɛft/ US: /hɛft/ ,(heft)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

heft /hɛft/   n. [uncountable]

1. weight;
   heaviness.

v. [~ + object]

2. to test the weight of by lifting and balancing:
   He hefted the spear.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

heft  (heft), n. 

1. weight;
   heaviness:
   It was a rather flimsy chair, without much heft to it.
2. significance or importance.
3. [Archaic.] the bulk or main part.

v.t. 

4. to test the weight of by lifting and balancing:
   He hefted the spear for a few moments, and then flung it at the foe.
5. to heave;
   hoist.

• heave + -t, variant of -th¹ 1550–60

heft′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

heft / hɛft/ verb (transitive)

1. to assess the weight of (something) by lifting
2. to lift

noun

1. weight
2. the main part

Etymology: 19th Century: probably from heave, by analogy with thieve, theft, cleave, cleft

ˈhefter noun