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Definition heavy in British English

heavy adjective

adjective
/ˈhevi/
1

a heavy object weighs a lot

Example

She was struggling with a heavy suitcase.

Example

Careful - that box is pretty heavy.

Example

You should soon be able to train with the heavier weights.

Example

a big heavy door

Example

He was a big man, too heavy for the nurses to lift.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

used when talking about how much someone or something weighs

Example

The bag was heavier than I'd expected.

Example

How heavy is the box?

Synonyms and related words
1.2

heavy clothes, shoes, or materials are thick and strong

Example

a heavy black overcoat

Example

heavy silk curtains

Synonyms and related words
2

used for saying that there is a lot of something

Example

Traffic is particularly heavy on the M5 tonight.

Example

He had a very heavy workload.

Example

The school places a heavy emphasis on children's musical development.

Example

Weather conditions were appalling, with heavy rain and strong winds.

Example

Her book shows a heavy reliance on the work of Dr Winston.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

used for saying that something involves a lot of people, things, or money

Example

The conflict caused heavy casualties on both sides.

Example

The company's heavy losses will lead to many redundancies.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

using or containing a lot of something

Example

The main course was a bit heavy on the garlic.

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2.3

containing a lot of something

Example

Her voice was heavy with sarcasm.

Example

The air was heavy with all the scents of summer.

Example

The trees were heavy with blossom.

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3

very severe

Example

She's paid a heavy price for her stupidity.

Example

He's got a heavy cold and is feeling terrible.

Example

Her sadness was a heavy burden for him to bear.

Synonyms and related words
4

using a lot of bombs, guns, or other weapons

Example

Industrial areas came under heavy bombardment.

Example

reports of heavy air strikes on the capital

Synonyms and related words
4.1

a heavy blow is done with a lot of physical force

Example

He received a heavy blow to the head.

Synonyms and related words
Example

Her father's had a heavy fall.

Example

She could hear Bill's heavy footsteps upstairs.

Example

His mother gave a heavy sigh of disapproval.

Synonyms and related words
Example

They did most of the heavy work in the morning.

Example

The steering on this car is much heavier than on the other one.

Synonyms and related words
6

serious and difficult

Example

I found his new book a bit heavy.

Example

Her speech was heavy stuff, with references to philosophy and psychology.

Synonyms and related words
6.1

a heavy situation or relationship is serious and often not enjoyable

Example

She felt their relationship was getting too heavy.

Example

I don't want any heavy stuff (=anything serious or complicated).

6.2

serious and threatening

Example

Things were getting a bit heavy, so I scarpered!

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7

a heavy silence is not comfortable because there is a feeling of anger between people

Synonyms and related words
8

used about things that look ugly because they are big

Example

He was a tall dark man, with heavy features.

Synonyms and related words
8.1

used about a way of moving that is slow and not graceful

Example

He broke into a heavy loping run.

Synonyms and related words
9

a heavy smell is sweet and strong

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10

if the air is heavy, it is warm in a sticky unpleasant way, especially before rain or a storm

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11

if the sky is heavy, or the clouds are heavy, the sky is dark and it looks as though it will rain

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12

a heavy sea is rough with big waves

Example

The ship went down in heavy seas off the coast of Norway.

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13

food that is heavy is rather solid and not enjoyable

Synonyms and related words
13.1

a heavy meal is a little too large and you seem to feel it in your stomach for a long time after you have eaten it

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14

ground that is heavy is wet and muddy, so that it is difficult to walk or travel over it

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14.1

heavy soil sticks together and is difficult to dig

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15

if a part of your body feels heavy, it is not comfortable and you cannot move it easily

Example

His legs felt heavy as concrete.

Synonyms and related words
15.1

if your eyes look heavy, they have a sad or tired expression

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16

if your heart is heavy, you feel sad

Example

He went away with a heavy heart.

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17

a heavy noise is deep and low

Example

There was a heavy thud as his body hit the floor.

Synonyms and related words
Definition heavy in British English