heaven
heaven — noun
1. In certain religions, heaven is the perfect place where God stays and where kind
In certain religions, heaven is the perfect place where God stays and where kind people go when their life ends. There they are said to live in complete joy forever.
Kemi believes her grandmother is in heaven watching over the family.
in heaven (location after death)
The priest spoke about entering heaven through faith and good deeds.
enter heaven (verb + object)
Bao hopes to meet his childhood friends again in heaven one day.
Cyrus reads stories about heaven in his holy book every evening before sleep.
- go to heaven
- enter heaven
- in heaven
- sent to heaven
- heaven and earth
- kingdom of heaven
- paradise
more general term for any perfect place, not exclusively religious; can also refer to the Garden of Eden
- the afterlife
broader term for any existence after death, not necessarily a pleasant one
- the beyond
more poetic or philosophical; less specific about location or happiness
- hell
the place of punishment after death in many religions
Grammar Patterns
go to heaven
in heaven
Usage Note
Usually uncountable without 'the.' The opposite of 'heaven' in this sense is 'hell.' In religious contexts, 'heaven' is often capitalised: 'May she rest in Heaven.'
Common Mistakes
2. The feeling of total joy you get from an activity or place so pleasant that it s
The feeling of total joy you get from an activity or place so pleasant that it seems perfect.
After hiking all day, slipping into a hot bath was pure heaven for Esteban.
pure heaven (adjective + noun)
An afternoon with books and no phone calls is absolute heaven for Inês.
absolute heaven (intensifier + noun)
Yara bit into the freshly baked bread and said, 'This is heaven.'
[something] is heaven (exclamatory)
After a stressful week, Greta called the spa massage absolute heaven.
- pure heaven
- absolute heaven
- total heaven
- feel like heaven
- taste like heaven
Grammar Patterns
[something] is heaven
like heaven
pure / absolute / total heaven
Usage Note
Common in spoken English and informal writing. Often used as a simple exclamation ('Heaven!') or in comparisons ('This tastes like heaven'). Do not add 'the' before 'heaven' in this sense.
Common Mistakes
3. The upper sky, seen as a vast dome above the earth — used in formal, poetic, or
The upper sky, seen as a vast dome above the earth — used in formal, poetic, or old-fashioned contexts.
As night fell, the heavens filled with thousands of tiny stars.
the heavens + verb (filled with)
Christopher gazed up at the heavens, searching for the North Star.
The heavens opened without warning, soaking everyone at the outdoor market.
the heavens open (idiom for heavy rain)
On that cold night, the heavens glowed under a brilliant full moon.
- the heavens
- the heavens open
- the starry heavens
- the heavens above
- the sky
neutral and everyday term; the heavens is more formal or poetic
- the firmament
very formal or biblical; rarely used outside religious or literary contexts
- the skies
slightly more poetic than 'the sky' but still in ordinary weather reports
Grammar Patterns
the heavens
the heavens + verb (open / clear / darken)
Usage Note
Nearly always used in the plural form 'the heavens.' This sense is found mainly in poetry, older fiction, and weather-related expressions such as 'the heavens opened.' Avoid using this sense in everyday spoken English.
Common Mistakes
good heavens!
idiomAn exclamation used to express surprise, shock, or mild annoyance.
Good heavens! Is it really past midnight already?
Good heavens, Élise — you scared me coming in so quietly!
heaven forbid
idiomUsed to express a strong hope that something will not happen.
Heaven forbid that such a tragedy should ever happen again.
What would we do if, heaven forbid, the hospital lost power?
heaven help somebody
idiomUsed to express fear or warning that someone will be in serious trouble or danger.
Heaven help anyone who leaves the gate open — the goats will escape.
Heaven help the poor dog if it wanders onto the busy road.
heaven knows
idiomUsed to emphasise that you do not know something, or to emphasise the truth of a statement.
Heaven knows where Ritu left her keys — we have looked everywhere.
Heaven knows I have tried my best to help the team succeed.
heaven forfend
idiomAn old-fashioned expression used to say that you are frightened by the idea of something happening.
If, heaven forfend, the bridge should collapse, there is a backup route.
Heaven forfend that we ever have to endure another winter like that one.
in heaven's name
idiomUsed in questions to express anger, surprise, or shock.
What in heaven's name made Asher drive home in that terrible storm?
Where in heaven's name did you find that enormous old clock?
in seventh heaven
idiomExtremely happy or content; in a state of bliss.
Pim was in seventh heaven after hearing the news of his promotion.
The children were in seventh heaven at the amusement park all day.
made in heaven
idiomDescribing a relationship or combination that seems perfectly suited.
The partnership between the two designers was a match made in heaven.
Chocolate and peanut butter is a combination made in heaven.
To do everything possible in order to achieve something.
The rescue team moved heaven and earth to find the lost climbers before dark.
Her parents moved heaven and earth to pay for her university education.
stink to high heaven
idiomTo have a very strong unpleasant smell; or to seem clearly dishonest or morally wrong.
The old refrigerator had been left open and stank to high heaven.
The whole deal stinks to high heaven — no honest business works that way.
thank heaven(s)
idiomUsed to express relief or happiness that something good has happened or something bad has been avoided.
Thank heavens nobody was hurt in the car accident last night.
Thank heaven you remembered to bring the tickets — I left mine at home.
the heavens open
idiomIt begins to rain very heavily.
We had just reached the car when the heavens opened and it poured.
The picnic was ruined when the heavens opened without any warning.
to God / to Heaven
idiomUsed after a verb to express a very strong hope or wish.
I wish to heaven that I had never said those hurtful words.
She prayed to heaven that the surgery would go well.
Used to express strong feelings like surprise, shock, or annoyance.
My God, I can't believe you climbed that mountain alone.
Oh dear God, did you see the size of that spider?
Used to express a strong hope that something will not happen.
Heaven forbid that we should miss the last train home.
God forbid you ever have to go through that again.
Used to express fear that someone will be in danger or trouble.
Heaven help anyone who gets in his way today.
God help us if the bridge collapses during the storm.
Used to emphasize that you do not know something, or to emphasize a statement.
Heaven knows where she left her keys this time.
Goodness knows I've tried my best to help him.
Used to express strong fear or disapproval that something might happen.
Heaven forfend that we should ever lose our way home.
God forfend that the children should be hurt.
Used to show surprise, shock, or annoyance.
Good Heavens, is that really the time already?
Heavens above, you scared me half to death!
Used in questions to show anger, surprise, or shock.
What in Heaven's name did you do to your hair?
Why in God's name would you say something like that?
To have a very strong and unpleasant smell.
The garbage in the bin stinks to high heaven.
His old sneakers smell to high heaven after the game.
Used to express relief or happiness about something.
Thank goodness the rain stopped before the picnic.
Thank heavens you remembered to bring the map.
Used after a verb to emphasize a hope, wish, or desire.
I wish to Heaven I had studied harder for the exam.
She prayed to God that her son would recover soon.