Heft

Heft refers to the physical property of being heavy or the amount of weight that an object has. In everyday use, heft is a qualitative assessment of how heavy something feels, rather than a precise measurement. The term derives from the English word for weight and shares roots with related Germanic terms for mass and burden.

As a noun, heft describes the heaviness or mass of an object. In physics, weight is the gravitational force on a mass; heft is the subjective sense of weight and the practical handling characteristics it produces, such as how easily a package can be lifted or a tool rests in the hand. Measuring weight requires a scale; unaided heft is an estimate.

As a verb, to heft means to lift or handle something in order to judge its weight by feel. People may heft a crate, a book, or a bag to gauge whether it is heavy or light; movers, warehouse staff, and shoppers often rely on heft when deciding how to carry or store items.

Figuratively, heft can denote significance, gravity, or importance. A report with substantial heft has serious content; a book or brand may be described as having heft to indicate it is substantial or durable, beyond mere size.