Synonyms

heavily

American

[hev-uh-lee] / ˈhɛv ə li /

adverb

with a great weight or burden.

a heavily loaded wagon.
in a manner suggestive of carrying a great weight; ponderously; lumberingly.

He walked heavily across the room.
in an oppressive manner.

Cares weigh heavily upon him.
severely; greatly; intensely.

to suffer heavily.
densely; thickly.

heavily wooded.
in large amounts or in great quantities; very much.

It rained heavily on Tuesday.
without animation or vigor; in a dull manner; sluggishly.

Other Word Forms

overheavily adverb
unheavily adverb

Etymology

Origin of heavily

First recorded before 900; Middle English hevyly, Old English hefiglīce; equivalent to heavy + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Footage of the arrest was released by the Carabinieri, showing heavily armed officers entering the villa.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

There are three other stakes races Saturday, including the race after the Derby, the Monrovia, with Queen Maxima heavily favored to win for the second straight year for Arthur and Islas.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

While GM, Ford and Chrysler together once overwhelmingly dominated American sales, they are now heavily eclipsed by foreign automakers, including ones that make cars in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Blood pressure is heavily influenced by a hormone called aldosterone, which helps regulate salt and water levels in the body.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

He was sitting in a shelter, tied to a roof post, without weapons or pack; and even if he got free, the camp was heavily guarded.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023