What does "heavenly" mean?
Of or pertaining to the heaven believed in by many religions.
Heavenly
adj, adv, name
adj, adv, name ·3 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of or pertaining to the heaven believed in by many religions.
- Grammar: heavenly is listed as adj, adv, name.
- Nearest alternatives: celestial, adorable, amazing, ambrosial.
- Useful contrasts: hellish, infernal, alas.
- Usage evidence: There are countless heavenly bodies in space.
How to use "heavenly"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "heavenly" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "heavenly" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "heavenly" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "heavenly" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "heavenly" is acting as adj, adv, name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "celestial" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "heavenly", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to the heaven believed in by many religions.
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of heavenly. alt-of
"Nothing stands between you and her, except God of course and a Heavenly host with flaming swords."
- 3 Synonym of celestial: of or pertaining to the heavens, the sky regarded as the realm of the sun, moon, planets, and stars.
- 4 Of or pertaining to the kingdom of God.
"1817, Charles Phillips (author-editor), Speech in the Case of O′Mullan v. M′Korkill, The Speeches of Charles Phillips, page 131, No doubt, you have all personally considered — no doubt, you have all personally experienced, that of all the blessings which it has pleased Providence to allow us to cultivate, there is not one which breathes a purer fragrance, or bears an heavenlier aspect than education."
- 5 Strongly or sublimely beautiful or pleasurable. figuratively
"Oh, please continue giving me a massage—it's absolutely heavenly."
Adjective
- 1 of or belonging to heaven or god wordnet
- 2 relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven wordnet
- 3 of or relating to the sky wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In a manner like that of heaven; by the influence or agency of heaven; divinely, miraculously.
"by night [she] saw that God in her armes, saying moreover unto her, that the next day, the first man she met withall, should heavenly pay her her wages."
- 2 To a degree such as to elicit great pleasure.
"Then, we taste the refried beans and the rice, and they are so heavenly delicious."
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name.
Example
"There are countless heavenly bodies in space."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "heavenly"?
Common synonyms include: celestial, adorable, amazing, ambrosial, anagalactic, angelic.
How do you use "heavenly" in a sentence?
There are countless heavenly bodies in space.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English hevenely, hevenly, from Old English heofonlīċ (“heavenly, celestial; chaste”); equivalent to heaven + -ly.
Etymology 2
See heavenly. Equivalent to Heaven + -ly.