heaven (heavens plural )
1 n-proper In some religions, heaven is said to be the place where God lives, where good people go when they die, and where everyone is always happy. It is usually imagined as being high up in the sky.
(=paradise)
2 n-uncount You can use heaven to refer to a place or situation that you like very much.
INFORMAL
(=paradise)
We went touring in Wales and Ireland. It was heaven...
3 n-plural The heavens are the sky.
OLD-FASHIONED the N
(=sky, skies)
He walked out into the middle of the road, looking up at the heavens.
5 You say `Heaven forbid!' to emphasize that you very much hope that something will not happen.
SPOKEN
heaven forbid phrase PHR that (emphasis)
Heaven forbid that he should leave because of me!
6 You say `Good heavens!' or `Heavens!' to express surprise or to emphasize that you agree or disagree with someone.
SPOKEN
(good) heavens exclam
(feelings)
Good Heavens! That explains a lot!...
7 You say `Heaven help someone' when you are worried that something bad is going to happen to them, often because you disapprove of what they are doing or the way they are behaving.
SPOKEN
heaven help sb phrase PHR n (disapproval)
If this makes sense to our leaders, then heaven help us all...
8 You can say `Heaven knows' to emphasize that you do not know something, or that you find something very surprising.
SPOKEN
heaven knows phrase PHR wh (emphasis)
Heaven knows what they put in it.
9 You can say `Heaven knows' to emphasize something that you feel or believe very strongly.
SPOKEN
heaven knows phrase PHR with cl (emphasis)
Heaven knows they have enough money...
10 If the heavens open, it suddenly starts raining very heavily.
the heavens open phrase V inflects
The match had just begun when the heavens opened and play was suspended.
11 →
for heaven's sake →
sake →
thank heavens →
thank
heaven-sent , heaven sent
You use heaven-sent to describe something such as an opportunity which is unexpected, but which is very welcome because it occurs at just the right time. adj usu ADJ n
It will be a heaven-sent opportunity to prove himself.
seventh heaven
If you say that you are in seventh heaven, you mean that you are in a state of complete happiness.
INFORMAL n-uncount in N
