heap

heap — noun

1. a messy collection of items that have been thrown or placed together without car

1.nounB1
Definition

a messy collection of items that have been thrown or placed together without care or order.

Example

Dario found a heap of old newspapers in the corner of the garage.

a heap of + noun (pile of things)

The children's dirty clothes lay in a heap on the bedroom floor.

lie in a heap (describing position)

Common collocations
  • a heap of + clothes/books/rubbish/leaves/newspapers
  • in a heap
  • into a heap
Synonyms
  • pile

    more neutral; a heap is usually messier than a pile

  • mound

    suggests a rounded shape, like a small hill of something

  • stack

    implies neat arrangement; a heap is the opposite of a stack

Antonyms
  • order

    heap emphasizes disorder; order is the absence of mess

Grammar Patterns

a heap of + noun (plural or uncountable)

2. a very large quantity or number of something; used informally to mean a lot.

2.nounB1
Definition

a very large quantity or number of something; used informally to mean a lot.

Example

The school received a heap of donations after the fire destroyed the gym.

a heap of + donations/money (informal quantity)

Vivek has heaps of experience teaching English to beginners.

heaps of + uncountable noun

Common collocations
  • heaps of + experience/time/money/friends
  • a heap of + trouble/work
Synonyms
  • a lot

    neutral and more common in everyday speech

  • loads

    same level of informality as 'heaps'

  • tons

    also informal; suggests an even larger quantity

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a heap of + noun

heaps of + noun

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'heaps' even when referring to a single large quantity. In British English, 'heaps' can also be used as an adverb before comparatives: 'heaps better', 'heaps older'.

Common Mistakes

I have heaps money.
I have heaps of money.
'heaps' must be followed by 'of' before a noun.

3. the position or level someone occupies within the ranking structure of a society

3.nounB2
Definition

the position or level someone occupies within the ranking structure of a society, organization, or profession.

Example

The team worked hard to climb to the top of the heap in their industry.

top of the heap (idiom: highest position)

In the old system, women were often at the bottom of the social heap.

bottom of the heap (idiom: lowest position)

Common collocations
  • top of the heap
  • bottom of the heap
Synonyms
  • ranks

    more formal; refers to levels within an organization

  • pecking order

    more informal; emphasizes competition and hierarchy

Grammar Patterns

the top/bottom of the heap

Usage Note

This sense is almost always used in fixed phrases like 'top of the heap' or 'bottom of the heap'. It describes relative success or failure in a competitive environment.

4. a worn-out motor vehicle, especially one in very poor condition that frequently

4.nounB2
Definition

a worn-out motor vehicle, especially one in very poor condition that frequently breaks down or is unsafe to drive.

Example

Cyrus drives an old heap that breaks down every time it rains.

old heap (informal: broken-down car)

My first car was a rusty heap with a broken heater and no radio.

Common collocations
  • old heap
  • rusty heap
Synonyms
  • wreck

    emphasizes that the car is damaged or barely functional

  • jalopy

    old-fashioned but similar meaning; slightly more humorous

Usage Note

Used mainly in British English conversation, often with 'old' ('old heap'). Carries a tone of affectionate humor or mild complaint about the vehicle's poor state.

Idioms

fall / collapse in a heap

idiom

to fall down heavily and stay on the ground, especially because you are very tired, sick, or injured.

After running the marathon, Sofia collapsed in a heap at the finish line.

The old chair broke and the man fell in a heap onto the floor.

at the top/bottom of the heap

idiom

Being in a high or low position within a group or organization.

After years of hard work, Maya finally reached the top of the heap.

New employees often start at the bottom of the heap.

collapse, fall, etc. in a heap

idiom

To fall down heavily and stay still, usually because of tiredness or injury.

After the marathon, Diego collapsed in a heap on the grass.

The boxer fell in a heap after the final punch.

heaps better, more, older, etc.

idiom

Much better, more, older, etc.

This new recipe tastes heaps better than the old one.

Sara has heaps more experience than her colleague.

heap — verb

Word family

  • heaps
    adverbB2
  • heaped
    adjectiveB2
  • heaping
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words refer to a collection of items gathered together, but they differ in shape, order, and emotional tone. A 'pile' is the most neutral term — items placed on top of each other, possibly neatly or messily. A 'heap' is always messy and careless; it suggests items thrown together without thought. A 'stack' implies neat arrangement with items placed flat on top of each other (a stack of books, a stack of plates). A 'mound' is rounded and often larger, like a small hill — used for earth, snow, or soft items. A 'mass' is the most general and shapeless, suggesting a large amount without any distinct form. For example, you might stack plates carefully in a cupboard, but throw dirty laundry into a heap in the corner. You would pile firewood loosely, but arrange documents in a neat stack on the desk.

pile ↗heap ↗stack ↗mound ↗mass ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a heap of
  • heaps of
  • in a heap
  • top of the heap
  • bottom of the heap

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'heap' comes from Old English 'héap', which meant a crowd, troop, or pile. This root is related to Old Saxon 'hop' and Old High German 'houf' (pile), and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic '*haupaz'. The sense of a large quantity dates back to the 9th century, while the figurative use for social position emerged in the 1800s. The verb form appeared around the 13th century, originally meaning to form into a pile.