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.
▪ “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
▪ How heavy is it? [=how much does it weigh?]
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ My legs became heavier with every step. ▪ Her eyelids grew heavy.
▪ 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
▪ a heavy winter coat ▪ heavy blankets
▪ The air was heavy and still. ▪ The air in the room was heavy with smoke. ▪ the heavy odor of wet dogs
▪ sailing in heavy weather ▪ a heavy sky ▪ heavy clouds
b : having large waves
▪ heavy seas
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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
▪ 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.
[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.




