What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retching
Example
The smell of the garbage made me start retching. [retching: present participle]
Example
She felt like she was going to start retching after eating the spoiled food. [retching: gerund]
heaving
Example
After drinking too much, he started heaving and couldn't stop. [heaving: present participle]
Example
The athlete was heaving after running the marathon. [heaving: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retching is more commonly used than heaving in everyday language, especially in medical contexts. Heaving is less common and may be used in more severe or dramatic situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between retching and heaving?
Both retching and heaving are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts. However, retching may be more versatile and can be used in various levels of formality, while heaving is more specific and may be limited to informal or medical settings.
