Heck
interjection
Used to express surprise, frustration, disbelief, or puzzlement.
What the heck is going on here?
Often appears as...
- what the heck
- where the heck
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
Used to express a specific point or period in time or as a general reference to a large amount.
I haven’t seen her in a heck of a long time.
Often appears as...
- a heck of a
- heck of a time
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A euphemism for 'Hell'.
See you in heck!
Usage tips
Informal
interjection
Used to express surprise, frustration, disbelief, or puzzlement.
What the heck is going on here?
Often appears as...
- what the heck
- where the heck
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
Used to express a specific point or period in time or as a general reference to a large amount.
I haven’t seen her in a heck of a long time.
Often appears as...
- a heck of a
- heck of a time
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A euphemism for 'Hell'.
See you in heck!
Usage tips
Informal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Express Mildness
Used to soften a statement, sound less offensive than using harsh words.
Where the heck have you been?
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Emphasis
Add emphasis in casual conversation, not usual in formal contexts.
How the heck did you do that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Frustration
Can indicate a speaker's frustration without being rude or vulgar.
I can't figure this out, what the heck!
Pro Tip 1/3Express Mildness
Used to soften a statement, sound less offensive than using harsh words.
Where the heck have you been?
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Emphasis
Add emphasis in casual conversation, not usual in formal contexts.
How the heck did you do that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Frustration
Can indicate a speaker's frustration without being rude or vulgar.
I can't figure this out, what the heck!
Pro Tip 1/3Express Mildness
Used to soften a statement, sound less offensive than using harsh words.
Where the heck have you been?
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Emphasis
Add emphasis in casual conversation, not usual in formal contexts.
How the heck did you do that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Frustration
Can indicate a speaker's frustration without being rude or vulgar.
I can't figure this out, what the heck!
Never forget "Heck"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How to speed up chemical...
we create an environment where more collisions can take place. Third, we must reduce the time allowed between classes -- heck, let's just cut it in half. In doing so, students will need to move more quickly to get from one class to the next. This increase in velocity will help make sure collisions have the appropriate amount of energy necessary
Video examples
Killer whale society PIPE...
ocean the killer whale is the most broadly distributed mammal in the world apart from us near shore off shore polar or tropical they occupy a singular position in the food web without concern of predation themselves fish seals penguins sharks great whales heck They ve been known to eat moose killer whales
Video examples
Inside your computer -...
instructions to move your mouse around on the screen, to run that clock widget on your desktop, play your internet radio, manage the files you're editing on the hard drive, and much, much more. Your computer's CPU is one heck of a multitasker! "But oh my gosh there's a very important mouse click
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
why we're here how we got here what what the heck is going on and so that that is my driving philosophy is to expand the scope and scale of consciousness that we may better understand the nature of the universe elon one of the things that was most touching last week
Video examples
Comparing the Spectacled...
those of us who had a lot of experience with Cobras have often said that the cobra doesn't strike open-mouthed rather he boxes he strikes at you with his mouth closed he's basically wanting you to get the heck out of it he doesn't
Video examples
Filming the Kung Fu...
arms and obviously you have to be quiet when you're filming wildlife but i remember looking at the cameraman alistair mcewan and just both of us with our jaws on the floor just thinking what the heck is going on
Video examples
Polar Bear Mom and Cubs...
your eyes would sure as heck take time to adjust to the light she's also checking for predators because now she's got not one but two cubs to protect hello world notice how closely mom looks after her
Video examples
Building a dinosaur from...
and they looked, for all the world, like red blood cells. And they're in what appear to be the blood channels that go through the bone. And so she thought, well, what the heck.
Video examples
How childhood trauma...
People will look at that situation and say, "What the heck happened there?" This is treatable. This is beatable. The single most important thing that we need today
Video examples
Flying Devils PIPE National...
isn't for personal enrichment this is havoc for the heck of it and for that purpose it doesn't get any better than messing with toilet paper so why
Video examples
How to speed up chemical...
we create an environment where more collisions can take place. Third, we must reduce the time allowed between classes -- heck, let's just cut it in half. In doing so, students will need to move more quickly to get from one class to the next. This increase in velocity will help make sure collisions have the appropriate amount of energy necessary
Video examples
Killer whale society PIPE...
ocean the killer whale is the most broadly distributed mammal in the world apart from us near shore off shore polar or tropical they occupy a singular position in the food web without concern of predation themselves fish seals penguins sharks great whales heck They ve been known to eat moose killer whales
Video examples
Inside your computer -...
instructions to move your mouse around on the screen, to run that clock widget on your desktop, play your internet radio, manage the files you're editing on the hard drive, and much, much more. Your computer's CPU is one heck of a multitasker! "But oh my gosh there's a very important mouse click
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
why we're here how we got here what what the heck is going on and so that that is my driving philosophy is to expand the scope and scale of consciousness that we may better understand the nature of the universe elon one of the things that was most touching last week
Video examples
Comparing the Spectacled...
those of us who had a lot of experience with Cobras have often said that the cobra doesn't strike open-mouthed rather he boxes he strikes at you with his mouth closed he's basically wanting you to get the heck out of it he doesn't
Video examples
Filming the Kung Fu...
arms and obviously you have to be quiet when you're filming wildlife but i remember looking at the cameraman alistair mcewan and just both of us with our jaws on the floor just thinking what the heck is going on
Video examples
Polar Bear Mom and Cubs...
your eyes would sure as heck take time to adjust to the light she's also checking for predators because now she's got not one but two cubs to protect hello world notice how closely mom looks after her
Video examples
Building a dinosaur from...
and they looked, for all the world, like red blood cells. And they're in what appear to be the blood channels that go through the bone. And so she thought, well, what the heck.
Video examples
How childhood trauma...
People will look at that situation and say, "What the heck happened there?" This is treatable. This is beatable. The single most important thing that we need today
Video examples
Flying Devils PIPE National...
isn't for personal enrichment this is havoc for the heck of it and for that purpose it doesn't get any better than messing with toilet paper so why
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Eric Carmen
American Musician
When I got the call to do a song for the sound track for this little movie that I was told was called 'Dancing Dirty,' I wasnt that wild about the idea. Probably no one would ever see it. What good would it do? But I said: 'What the heck... I've got nothing better to do.
Quote examples
Edward Whitacre, Jr.
American Businessman
Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable if you'd just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.
Quote examples
Alexa Bliss
American Athlete
I told my mom: I said, 'Mom, I'm going to try out for WWE.' Her response was, 'The heck you are!' She was like, 'You are not doing that!' So I had to try out without her knowing, but now she's, like, the biggest supporter and so proud of me.
Quote examples
Eddie Alvarez
American Athlete
When I joined UFC, I said I want to be involved in fights where millions of fans are watching, biting their fingernails, thinking, 'What the heck is going to go on here?
Quote examples
Mark Frost
American Novelist
At the heart of life lies a mystery that everybody has to wrestle with. What the heck are we doing here? How does this world work, and how do I fit?
Quote examples
Tripti Dimri
Indian Actress
I don't think I am that person who can just text people for the heck of work. I should be invested in that person otherwise I won't.
Quote examples
Pankaj Tripathi
Indian Actor
I just don't play a character for the heck of it. Rather, I always look for a human element in every character that I play.
Quote examples
Matthew Desmond
American Sociologist
I felt that writing about peoples' lives was a heck of a responsibility, and I wanted to know them in a deep way.
Quote examples
Andrew Keenan-Bolger
American Actor
Tony night was probably the highlight of my time with 'Newsies' - heck, of my life for that matter!
Quote examples
Lorne Greene
Canadian Actor
I've been interested and concerned with wildlife for a heck of a long time.
Quote examples
Eric Carmen
American Musician
When I got the call to do a song for the sound track for this little movie that I was told was called 'Dancing Dirty,' I wasnt that wild about the idea. Probably no one would ever see it. What good would it do? But I said: 'What the heck... I've got nothing better to do.
Quote examples
Edward Whitacre, Jr.
American Businessman
Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable if you'd just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.
Quote examples
Alexa Bliss
American Athlete
I told my mom: I said, 'Mom, I'm going to try out for WWE.' Her response was, 'The heck you are!' She was like, 'You are not doing that!' So I had to try out without her knowing, but now she's, like, the biggest supporter and so proud of me.
Quote examples
Eddie Alvarez
American Athlete
When I joined UFC, I said I want to be involved in fights where millions of fans are watching, biting their fingernails, thinking, 'What the heck is going to go on here?
Quote examples
Mark Frost
American Novelist
At the heart of life lies a mystery that everybody has to wrestle with. What the heck are we doing here? How does this world work, and how do I fit?
Quote examples
Tripti Dimri
Indian Actress
I don't think I am that person who can just text people for the heck of work. I should be invested in that person otherwise I won't.
Quote examples
Pankaj Tripathi
Indian Actor
I just don't play a character for the heck of it. Rather, I always look for a human element in every character that I play.
Quote examples
Matthew Desmond
American Sociologist
I felt that writing about peoples' lives was a heck of a responsibility, and I wanted to know them in a deep way.
Quote examples
Andrew Keenan-Bolger
American Actor
Tony night was probably the highlight of my time with 'Newsies' - heck, of my life for that matter!
Quote examples
Lorne Greene
Canadian Actor
I've been interested and concerned with wildlife for a heck of a long time.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension