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.

This is especially important in a country like the UK, which depends heavily on imports and complex logistics networks.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In the first, he led a brilliantly played performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony, which speaks well for a fall season that will rely heavily on Beethoven.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The point is to focus more on new offerings rather than heavily investing in certain staples, which caters well to Revolve’s shoppers, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“Yes, but it relies heavily on spirits. What if he’s cautious?”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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