The present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber excellent in the cut resistance, has a high dimensional stability at about room temperature at which products are used, has a high shrinkage rate and stress, and excellent in forming processability when processed at a low temperature much less than a melting point of a polyethylene. And the present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber excellent in processability at a low temperature, wherein an intrinsic viscosity [η] is higher than or equal to 0.8 dL/g, and is not higher than 4.9 dL/g, ethylene is substantially contained as a repeating unit, and a thermal stress at 40° C. is lower than or equal to 0.05 cN/dtex, and a thermal stress at 70° C. is higher than or equal to 0.05 cN/dtex, and is not higher than 0.25 cN/dtex. Further the present invention provides strings, ropes, woven/knitted textiles, and gloves thereof.