heavyheavy1 /ˈhɛvi/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative heavier, superlative heaviest) 1
WEIGHING A LOT weighing a lot OPP light: a heavy suitcase The box is extremely heavy.2HOW MUCH WEIGHT used to talk about how much someone or something weighs: How heavy is the package?3FAT PERSON used to politely describe someone who is fat: Brian’s gotten very heavy lately.► see thesaurus at fat14A LOT unusually large in amount or quantity: The traffic was heavier than normal. a heavy workload Roads were closed due to the heavy snow. The police made heavy use of firearms. Illegal parking carries a heavy fine (=you will have to pay a lot of money). Most insurance companies suffered heavy losses (=they lost a lot of money) last year. There was heavy fighting in the capital yesterday.heavy reliance/dependence on somebody/something a heavy reliance on imported materials5SEVERE very severe: a heavy defeat/blow She suffered the heaviest defeat of her career.a heavy load/burden/responsibility etc. Rent increases put a heavy burden on some families’ budgets.a heavy price/toll The bombing took a heavy toll. She’s in bed with a heavy cold.6MATERIAL/CLOTHES ETC. material, clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. that are heavy are large, thick, and solid OPP light, lightweight: a heavy winter coat7NEEDING PHYSICAL EFFORT needing a lot of physical strength and effort OPP light: I can’t do any heavy lifting. heavy manual work8NEEDING MENTAL EFFORT very complicated or serious and needing a lot of mental effort OPP light: I want something to read on vacation – nothing too heavy. a heavy discussion I found her last novel rather heavy going.9GUNS/EQUIPMENT [only before noun] large and powerful OPP light: tanks and heavy weaponry heavy machinery10a heavy smoker/drinker someone who smokes a lot or drinks a lot of alcohol11heavy accent a way of speaking that can be difficult to understand because someone uses the sounds of his or her own language when speaking a different language: Ricky’s mother has a heavy Spanish accent.12BUSY a day, week, etc. in which you have a lot to do in a short time OPP light: I had a pretty heavy day at the office.13FOOD solid or containing a lot of fat, and making your stomach feel full and uncomfortable OPP light: a heavy meal heavy cream14a heavy sleeper someone who does not wake easily OPP a light sleeper15heavy breathing a)breathing that is slow and loud: I could hear Carl’s heavy breathing coming from the bedroom. b)the act of breathing loudly while on the telephone, in order to frighten someone: The calls were filled with heavy breathing and dirty language.16WITH FORCE hitting something or falling with a lot of force or weight: the sound of heavy footsteps a heavy blow to the jaw17BODY/FACE having a large, broad, or thick appearance: a large heavy-featured woman Kyle is a tall man with a heavy build (=a large broad body).18be heavy on something informal to use a lot or too much of something: Many computer games are heavy on fighting.19heavy clouds/skies literary dark and gray clouds that make it look as though it will rain soon20GROUND heavy soil is thick and solid21AIR too warm and with no wind: the damp heavy atmosphere of the rainforest22SMELL strong and usually sweet: a heavy fragranceheavy with The garden was heavy with the scent of summer.23TIRED if your head, arms, legs, or eyes are heavy, it is difficult to use them, hold them up, or keep them open, because you are very tired: My eyes were so heavy, I couldn’t keep them open.24INVOLVING SERIOUS EMOTIONS informal involving serious or strong emotions OPP light: She didn’t want things to get too heavy.25a heavy date a very important date that is likely to involve romantic or sexual activity26the heavy hand of something used to say that someone or something has a lot of authority and uses it in an unreasonable way: the heavy hand of the law27a heavy sigh a deep sigh (=act of letting your breath out) that shows you are very upset or sad28a heavy silence/atmosphere a situation in which people feel sad, anxious, or embarrassed: A heavy silence fell upon the room.29heavy seas big waves on the surface of the ocean30with a heavy heart literary feeling very sad: It was with a heavy heart that Kate kissed her children goodbye.31be heavy with fruit/blossom etc. literary if trees are heavy with fruit or blossom, they have a lot of fruit or flowers on them32heavy irony/sarcasm remarks that very clearly say the opposite of what you really feel33have a heavy foot informal to drive too fast34a heavy cold a very bad cold: She’s in bed with a heavy cold.35SERIOUS/WORRYING slang a situation that is heavy makes you feel that people are very angry or have very strong feelings: It was a pretty heavy scene.[Origin: Old English hefig]—heaviness noun [uncountable]
WEIGHING A LOT weighing a lot OPP light: a heavy suitcase The box is extremely heavy.2HOW MUCH WEIGHT used to talk about how much someone or something weighs: How heavy is the package?3FAT PERSON used to politely describe someone who is fat: Brian’s gotten very heavy lately.► see thesaurus at fat14A LOT unusually large in amount or quantity: The traffic was heavier than normal. a heavy workload Roads were closed due to the heavy snow. The police made heavy use of firearms. Illegal parking carries a heavy fine (=you will have to pay a lot of money). Most insurance companies suffered heavy losses (=they lost a lot of money) last year. There was heavy fighting in the capital yesterday.heavy reliance/dependence on somebody/something a heavy reliance on imported materials5SEVERE very severe: a heavy defeat/blow She suffered the heaviest defeat of her career.a heavy load/burden/responsibility etc. Rent increases put a heavy burden on some families’ budgets.a heavy price/toll The bombing took a heavy toll. She’s in bed with a heavy cold.6MATERIAL/CLOTHES ETC. material, clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. that are heavy are large, thick, and solid OPP light, lightweight: a heavy winter coat7NEEDING PHYSICAL EFFORT needing a lot of physical strength and effort OPP light: I can’t do any heavy lifting. heavy manual work8NEEDING MENTAL EFFORT very complicated or serious and needing a lot of mental effort OPP light: I want something to read on vacation – nothing too heavy. a heavy discussion I found her last novel rather heavy going.9GUNS/EQUIPMENT [only before noun] large and powerful OPP light: tanks and heavy weaponry heavy machinery10a heavy smoker/drinker someone who smokes a lot or drinks a lot of alcohol11heavy accent a way of speaking that can be difficult to understand because someone uses the sounds of his or her own language when speaking a different language: Ricky’s mother has a heavy Spanish accent.12BUSY a day, week, etc. in which you have a lot to do in a short time OPP light: I had a pretty heavy day at the office.13FOOD solid or containing a lot of fat, and making your stomach feel full and uncomfortable OPP light: a heavy meal heavy cream14a heavy sleeper someone who does not wake easily OPP a light sleeper15heavy breathing a)breathing that is slow and loud: I could hear Carl’s heavy breathing coming from the bedroom. b)the act of breathing loudly while on the telephone, in order to frighten someone: The calls were filled with heavy breathing and dirty language.16WITH FORCE hitting something or falling with a lot of force or weight: the sound of heavy footsteps a heavy blow to the jaw17BODY/FACE having a large, broad, or thick appearance: a large heavy-featured woman Kyle is a tall man with a heavy build (=a large broad body).18be heavy on something informal to use a lot or too much of something: Many computer games are heavy on fighting.19heavy clouds/skies literary dark and gray clouds that make it look as though it will rain soon20GROUND heavy soil is thick and solid21AIR too warm and with no wind: the damp heavy atmosphere of the rainforest22SMELL strong and usually sweet: a heavy fragranceheavy with The garden was heavy with the scent of summer.23TIRED if your head, arms, legs, or eyes are heavy, it is difficult to use them, hold them up, or keep them open, because you are very tired: My eyes were so heavy, I couldn’t keep them open.24INVOLVING SERIOUS EMOTIONS informal involving serious or strong emotions OPP light: She didn’t want things to get too heavy.25a heavy date a very important date that is likely to involve romantic or sexual activity26the heavy hand of something used to say that someone or something has a lot of authority and uses it in an unreasonable way: the heavy hand of the law27a heavy sigh a deep sigh (=act of letting your breath out) that shows you are very upset or sad28a heavy silence/atmosphere a situation in which people feel sad, anxious, or embarrassed: A heavy silence fell upon the room.29heavy seas big waves on the surface of the ocean30with a heavy heart literary feeling very sad: It was with a heavy heart that Kate kissed her children goodbye.31be heavy with fruit/blossom etc. literary if trees are heavy with fruit or blossom, they have a lot of fruit or flowers on them32heavy irony/sarcasm remarks that very clearly say the opposite of what you really feel33have a heavy foot informal to drive too fast34a heavy cold a very bad cold: She’s in bed with a heavy cold.35SERIOUS/WORRYING slang a situation that is heavy makes you feel that people are very angry or have very strong feelings: It was a pretty heavy scene.[Origin: Old English hefig]—heaviness noun [uncountable]