Phrase guide

in heaven's name

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

An intensifier, chiefly used with questions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • What in heaven's name are you doing?
  • Who in heaven's name told you to do that?
  • Where in heaven's name are my darn shoes?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in the name of heaven

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Alternative letter-case form of in heaven's name.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: in hemelsnaam — intensifier
  • Finnish: taivaan tähden — intensifier
  • French: au nom du ciel — intensifier
  • French: pour l'amour du ciel — intensifier
  • Italian: in nome del cielo — intensifier
  • Polish: na miłość boską — intensifier
  • Scottish Gaelic: an ainm an àigh — intensifier
  • Swedish: i fridens namn — intensifier
  • Swedish: i hela fridens namn — intensifier