Heaven — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈhe-vən/ heav·en

Meaning & Definition of Heaven

Heaven (noun)

  1. the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome, firmament —usually used in plural
  2. the dwelling place of God and the blessed dead in some religions
  3. a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God

Heaven (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death

    "prayed that the souls of the deceased would go to heaven"

    similar: above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky, Zion, on high
    related: Beulah, glory, happy hunting ground, nirvana, promised land, Valhalla, afterlife, afterworld, hereafter, otherworld
    opposite: Gehenna, hell, Pandemonium, perdition
    near: inferno, limbo, purgatory, hades, netherworld, underworld, abyss, pit

  2. an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness

    "compared to my old job, this new one is heaven"

    similar: Camelot, Cockaigne, Eden, Elysium, empyrean, fantasyland, lotusland, never-never land, New Jerusalem, nirvana, paradise, promised land, Shangri-la, utopia, Zion, Garden of Eden
    related: arcadia, dreamland, dreamworld, fairyland, wonderland, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, euphoria, gladness, joy
    opposite: anti-utopia, dystopia, hell
    near: fool's paradise

  3. a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion

    "she was in heaven the day she learned she was one of the finalists for the science scholarship"

    similar: cloud nine, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, high, intoxication, paradise, rapture, rhapsody, seventh heaven, swoon, transport
    related: exaltation, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, delight, enchantment, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, pleasure, reverie, trance, inspiration, fervor, frenzy, madness, passion, cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness
    opposite: depression
    near: misery, sadness, unhappiness, woe, wretchedness, blues, dejection, desolation, despair, despondency, disconsolateness, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, melancholy, mopes

  4. the expanse of air surrounding the earth

    "the starry heavens"

    "the space shuttle gradually disappeared into the heavens"

    similar: blue, firmament, high, sky, welkin
    related: midair, horizon, skyline

Related Entry: Heaven-sent (adjective)

Heaven-sent is a different word from Heaven. The synonyms below are for heaven-sent, not for heaven.

  1. coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly

    "a heaven-sent offer to be the all-expenses-paid chaperone to some students on a trip to Paris"

    similar: fluky, fortuitous, fortunate, happy, lucky, providential
    related: convenient, opportune, seasonable, timely, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for, accidental, chance, coincidental, serendipitous, auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious, benign, favorable, golden, good, halcyon, advantageous, beneficial, profitable
    opposite: hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky
    near: inconvenient, inopportune, unseasonable, untimely, anticipated, expected, foreseen, deliberate, intentional, planned, inauspicious, unpromising, calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous

Related Entry: Hog heaven (noun)

Hog heaven is a different word from Heaven. The synonyms below are for hog heaven, not for heaven.

  1. a situation or state of carefree comfort

    "a drink was in my hand, my butt was in a hot tub, and I was in hog heaven"

    similar: beer and skittles, easy street, fun and games, picnic, bed of roses, the lap of luxury, life of Riley
    related: primrose path, heaven, paradise, utopia, American dream, good life, ease, relaxation, rest
    near: agony, hell, horror, misery, murder, nightmare, torment, torture

Related Entry: Seventh heaven (noun)

Seventh heaven is a different word from Heaven. The synonyms below are for seventh heaven, not for heaven.

  1. a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion

    "she was in seventh heaven when she received the acceptance letter to medical school"

    similar: cloud nine, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, heaven, high, intoxication, paradise, rapture, rhapsody, swoon, transport
    related: exaltation, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, delight, enchantment, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, pleasure, reverie, trance, inspiration, fervor, frenzy, madness, passion, cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness
    opposite: depression
    near: misery, sadness, unhappiness, woe, wretchedness, blues, dejection, desolation, despair, despondency, disconsolateness, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, melancholy, mopes

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Heaven

The most common words with a similar meaning to Heaven:

above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky, Zion, Camelot, Cockaigne, Eden, fantasyland, lotusland, never-never land, nirvana, promised land, Shangri-la, utopia, cloud nine, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, high, intoxication, rapture, rhapsody, seventh heaven, swoon, transport, blue, firmament, welkin, on high, Garden of Eden

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Heaven

Words with the opposite meaning of Heaven:

Gehenna, hell, Pandemonium, perdition, anti-utopia, dystopia, depression

Related Words for Heaven

Beulah, glory, happy hunting ground, Valhalla, afterlife, afterworld, hereafter, otherworld, arcadia, dreamland, dreamworld, fairyland, wonderland, blessedness, blissfulness, gladness, joy, exaltation, delight, enchantment, felicity, happiness, joyfulness, joyousness, pleasure, reverie, trance, inspiration, fervor, frenzy

Near Antonyms of Heaven

inferno, limbo, purgatory, hades, netherworld, underworld, abyss, pit, fool's paradise, misery, sadness, unhappiness, woe, wretchedness, blues, dejection, desolation, despair, despondency, disconsolateness, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness

Origin & Etymology of Heaven

Middle English heven, from Old English heofon; akin to Old High German himil heaven

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Heaven

Words & Phrases Containing Heaven

heaven-sent, heaven knows, heaven's above, hog heaven, seventh heaven, tree of heaven, (a) heaven on earth, a match made in heaven, for heaven's sake

Frequently Asked Questions about Heaven

What does "Heaven" mean?

"Heaven" means the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome, firmament —usually used in plural. As a noun, it is defined as: the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome, firmament —usually used in plural. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Heaven"?

Other words for "Heaven" include above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem and paradise. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Heaven" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Heaven"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Heaven". Common alternatives include above, bliss, elysian fields, Elysium, empyrean, kingdom come, New Jerusalem, paradise, sky and Zion.

What is the opposite of "Heaven"?

Antonyms of "Heaven" include Gehenna, hell, Pandemonium, perdition, anti-utopia, dystopia and depression. Near antonyms include inferno, limbo, purgatory and hades.

How do you use "Heaven" in a sentence?

Examples of "Heaven" in a sentence: "prayed that the souls of the deceased would go to heaven"; "compared to my old job, this new one is heaven"; "she was in heaven the day she learned she was one of the finalists for the science scholarship".

Is "Heaven" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Heaven" is a noun.

Is "Heaven" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Heaven" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Heaven"?

"Heaven" is pronounced /ˈhe-vən/ and divided into syllables as heav·en.