1 heavy
Pronounced:
/ˈhɛvi/
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
heavi·er; heavi·estMeaning:
1 a : having great weight : difficult to lift or move ▪ “Is that box too heavy for you to lift?” “No, it's not very heavy.” ▪ a heavy suitcase ▪ heavy pots and pans ▪ The truck was carrying a heavy load. —opposite light b : large in size and weight ▪ The man was six feet tall with a heavy build. ▪ a tall, heavy [=(less politely) fat] man
2 : having a particular weight ▪ How heavy is it? [=how much does it weigh?]
3 a : greater in amount or degree than usual ▪ Turnout for the election is expected to be heavy. ▪ We got caught in heavy traffic. b : strong ▪ heavy perfume ▪ heavy winds c : great in amount ▪ Heavy rains caused flooding in the area. ▪ heavy bleeding/sweating ▪ She was wearing sunglasses and heavy makeup. ▪ The storm caused heavy damage to the building. ▪ The company is facing heavy losses this quarter. ▪ We suffered heavy casualties. [=many deaths or injuries] ▪ a day of heavy fighting d : difficult to accept or bear ▪ They are paying a heavy price for their mistakes. ▪ It is a heavy burden for one person to bear. : harsh or severe ▪ The stress has taken a heavy toll on his health. ▪ heavy fines/penalties e : great in degree or effect ▪ He came under heavy attack/fire for his comments. ▪ She is the heavy favorite to win. ▪ the country's heavy reliance on oil ▪ (chiefly Brit) He caught a heavy cold. —opposite light
4 : involving a lot of physical effort ▪ an hour of heavy exercise/exertion ▪ Why do I have to do all the heavy work? ▪ I hurt my back and couldn't do any heavy lifting. —sometimes used figuratively ▪ He does all the heavy lifting [=difficult work] while his partner gets the recognition. —opposite light
5 : very loud or forceful ▪ The song has a heavy beat. ▪ There was a heavy knock at the door. ▪ heavy footsteps ▪ He delivered a heavy blow to his opponent. —often used figuratively ▪ The new government was dealt a heavy blow. —opposite light
6 : important and serious ▪ We were having a heavy conversation about our son's future. ▪ This is pretty heavy stuff. ▪ doing some heavy reading/thinking ▪ a heavy thinker —opposite light
7 : difficult to move or lift up because of tiredness ▪ My legs became heavier with every step. ▪ Her eyelids grew heavy.
8 : dense and thick : having a lot of hair, trees, etc., in a small area ▪ He has a heavy beard. ▪ The animals have shed their heavy winter coats. ▪ areas of forest and heavy brush ▪ heavy fog/smoke ▪ heavy clay soil —opposite light
9 : made of thick material ▪ a heavy winter coat ▪ heavy blankets
10 : having too much heat, moisture, etc., and not enough fresh air ▪ The air was heavy and still. ▪ The air in the room was heavy with smoke. ▪ the heavy odor of wet dogs
11 a : showing signs of rain or snow ▪ sailing in heavy weather ▪ a heavy sky ▪ heavy clouds b : having large waves ▪ heavy seas
12 : deep and loud ▪ She let out a heavy sigh. ▪ the heavy breathing of a tired runner ◊The phrase heavy breathing is sometimes used in a joking way to refer to sexual activity. ▪ a night of heavy breathing
13 a : eating, drinking, or using large amounts of something ▪ a heavy eater/drinker/smoker ▪ a cook who has a heavy hand with the salt [=who uses too much salt] b : done often and in large amounts ▪ heavy alcohol consumption ▪ Years of heavy smoking had destroyed her lungs. —opposite light
14 a : very rich, dense, or thick ▪ fruit in heavy syrup ▪ The bread was a little heavy. b : making your stomach feel full ▪ heavy desserts ▪ a heavy breakfast of pancakes and sausage —opposite light
15 a : large and powerful ▪ heavy machinery/equipment ▪ the army's tanks and heavy artillery ▪ He flew heavy bombers in World War II. b of a group of soldiers : having more weapons and armor than other groups ▪ heavy infantry/cavalry —opposite light
16 of a person's accent : very easy to notice ▪ She spoke French/English/German with a heavy [=thick] accent.
2 : having a particular weight ▪ How heavy is it? [=how much does it weigh?]
3 a : greater in amount or degree than usual ▪ Turnout for the election is expected to be heavy. ▪ We got caught in heavy traffic. b : strong ▪ heavy perfume ▪ heavy winds c : great in amount ▪ Heavy rains caused flooding in the area. ▪ heavy bleeding/sweating ▪ She was wearing sunglasses and heavy makeup. ▪ The storm caused heavy damage to the building. ▪ The company is facing heavy losses this quarter. ▪ We suffered heavy casualties. [=many deaths or injuries] ▪ a day of heavy fighting d : difficult to accept or bear ▪ They are paying a heavy price for their mistakes. ▪ It is a heavy burden for one person to bear. : harsh or severe ▪ The stress has taken a heavy toll on his health. ▪ heavy fines/penalties e : great in degree or effect ▪ He came under heavy attack/fire for his comments. ▪ She is the heavy favorite to win. ▪ the country's heavy reliance on oil ▪ (chiefly Brit) He caught a heavy cold. —opposite light
4 : involving a lot of physical effort ▪ an hour of heavy exercise/exertion ▪ Why do I have to do all the heavy work? ▪ I hurt my back and couldn't do any heavy lifting. —sometimes used figuratively ▪ He does all the heavy lifting [=difficult work] while his partner gets the recognition. —opposite light
5 : very loud or forceful ▪ The song has a heavy beat. ▪ There was a heavy knock at the door. ▪ heavy footsteps ▪ He delivered a heavy blow to his opponent. —often used figuratively ▪ The new government was dealt a heavy blow. —opposite light
6 : important and serious ▪ We were having a heavy conversation about our son's future. ▪ This is pretty heavy stuff. ▪ doing some heavy reading/thinking ▪ a heavy thinker —opposite light
7 : difficult to move or lift up because of tiredness ▪ My legs became heavier with every step. ▪ Her eyelids grew heavy.
8 : dense and thick : having a lot of hair, trees, etc., in a small area ▪ He has a heavy beard. ▪ The animals have shed their heavy winter coats. ▪ areas of forest and heavy brush ▪ heavy fog/smoke ▪ heavy clay soil —opposite light
9 : made of thick material ▪ a heavy winter coat ▪ heavy blankets
10 : having too much heat, moisture, etc., and not enough fresh air ▪ The air was heavy and still. ▪ The air in the room was heavy with smoke. ▪ the heavy odor of wet dogs
11 a : showing signs of rain or snow ▪ sailing in heavy weather ▪ a heavy sky ▪ heavy clouds b : having large waves ▪ heavy seas
12 : deep and loud ▪ She let out a heavy sigh. ▪ the heavy breathing of a tired runner ◊The phrase heavy breathing is sometimes used in a joking way to refer to sexual activity. ▪ a night of heavy breathing
13 a : eating, drinking, or using large amounts of something ▪ a heavy eater/drinker/smoker ▪ a cook who has a heavy hand with the salt [=who uses too much salt] b : done often and in large amounts ▪ heavy alcohol consumption ▪ Years of heavy smoking had destroyed her lungs. —opposite light
14 a : very rich, dense, or thick ▪ fruit in heavy syrup ▪ The bread was a little heavy. b : making your stomach feel full ▪ heavy desserts ▪ a heavy breakfast of pancakes and sausage —opposite light
15 a : large and powerful ▪ heavy machinery/equipment ▪ the army's tanks and heavy artillery ▪ He flew heavy bombers in World War II. b of a group of soldiers : having more weapons and armor than other groups ▪ heavy infantry/cavalry —opposite light
16 of a person's accent : very easy to notice ▪ She spoke French/English/German with a heavy [=thick] accent.
heavy date
chiefly US humorous : an important romantic date ▪ He has a heavy date tonight.
heavy going
: difficult to do or finish ▪ The cold made the race heavy going for many runners. ▪ The book is really heavy going at the beginning.
heavy heart
◊If you have a heavy heart, you are sad. ▪ I announced my decision to leave with a heavy heart.
heavy on
: having or using a large amount of (something) ▪ His movies are light/low on talk and heavy on action. ▪ She tends to be heavy on the salt. [=she uses a lot of salt]
heavy sleeper
: someone who does not wake up easily
heavy with
: carrying or having a large amount of (something) ▪ The trees are heavy with fruit. ▪ Her comments were heavy with irony.
hot and heavy —see 1hot
make heavy weather of
Brit informal : to treat (something) in a way that makes it seem more important or difficult than it really is ▪ an actor who makes heavy weather of what should be a simple scene
—heavi·ness noun [noncount] ▪ the heaviness of the table [singular] ▪ He felt a sudden heaviness [=a feeling of pressure] in his chest. —often used figuratively ▪ There was a heaviness [=a feeling of sadness] in his heart.