heavy
heavy
Pronunciation
First syllable (/ˈhɛv/):
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative (as in "hat")
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel (as in "bed")
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative (as in "van")
Second syllable (/i/):
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel (as in "see")
Word Form Variations
Adjective: heavy
Comparative Adjective: heavier
Superlative Adjective: heaviest
Adverb: heavily
Noun (derived): heaviness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Possessing great weight; difficult to lift or move.
Synonyms: weighty, bulky, ponderous, massive
Antonyms: light, airy, insubstantial
Definition 2: Of great intensity or force; powerful or strong.
Example: The country experienced heavy rainfall.
Synonyms: intense, strong, severe, extreme, considerable
Antonyms: light, mild, gentle, weak
Definition 3: Requiring a lot of effort or endurance; difficult to do or bear.
Example: She had a heavy workload this week.
Synonyms: arduous, difficult, burdensome, taxing, demanding
Antonyms: easy, light, simple, effortless
Definition 4: (Of a person) Large and strongly built; sturdy.
Synonyms: stout, corpulent, burly, stocky
Antonyms: slender, thin, delicate, slight
Definition 5: (Of a mood or atmosphere) Oppressive or somber; serious or profound.
Example: A heavy silence filled the room after the news.
Synonyms: somber, gloomy, grave, serious, oppressive
Antonyms: light, cheerful, joyful, uplifting
Definition 6: (Of food or drink) Rich and filling, often difficult to digest.
Example: After the heavy meal, I felt very full.
Synonyms: rich, filling, substantial, indigestible
Antonyms: light, lean, easily digestible
Adverb
Definition 1: (Used with verbs of movement or impact) With great force or weight.
Example: The rain came down heavily.
Synonyms: forcefully, intensely, ponderously, strongly
Antonyms: lightly, gently, weakly
Noun
Definition 1: (Slang) A large, strong person, especially one employed as a bodyguard or bouncer.
Synonyms: tough, strongman, enforcer, bouncer
Antonyms: weakling, lightweight
Examples of Use
Books:
"His gaze was heavy with unspoken worry, a weight she felt pressing down on her own heart." (From a fictional novel, author's name omitted for generality, but representative of emotional descriptions in literature)
"The old man's footsteps were heavy on the creaking floorboards, each one echoing the years of labor in his bones." (Descriptive passage in a historical fiction novel)
Newspapers:
"The government faces a heavy task in rebuilding the infrastructure after the recent floods." (Headline or lead sentence in a news article, e.g., The Daily Nation)
"Analysts are predicting heavy losses for the company in the third quarter due to declining sales." (Financial section of a newspaper, e.g., The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"We review the new album, and it's clear the band has moved into a heavy, more experimental sound." (Music review on an online publication like Pitchfork)
"Heavy traffic is expected on all major highways this holiday weekend, drivers advised to seek alternate routes." (Traffic update on a news website or app, e.g., CNN.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: "That was a really heavy scene; I'm still thinking about it." (Commentary during a film review podcast or a casual conversation about a TV show)
Video Games: "You found the heavy armor set! It offers excellent defense but slows your movement." (In-game text or dialogue from an RPG, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Music (Song Lyrics): "I'm feeling heavy, got the weight of the world on my shoulders." (Lyric from a contemporary song, conveying emotional burden)
Podcasts: "Our next guest is a heavy hitter in the world of quantum physics, known for their groundbreaking research." (Introduction of an expert on a science or interview podcast)
Social Media: "My workout today was super heavy! Feeling the burn." (A user's post on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) with a fitness context)
Comedy/Stand-up: "I don't do heavy material; I just want people to laugh." (A comedian's statement about their style of humor)
General Public Discourse:
"The air feels really heavy today; I think it's going to rain." (Everyday conversation about weather conditions)
"Can you help me with this box? It's pretty heavy." (Common request when moving objects)
"That's a heavy decision to make, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes." (Discussion about a difficult choice or responsibility)
"After that long flight, I felt incredibly heavy and tired." (Casual conversation describing physical fatigue)
10 Famous Quotes Using heavy
"The heaviest of burdens is simultaneously an emblem of the most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and true they become." (Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." (William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2 - using "uneasy" as a strong synonym for "heavy" in terms of burden)
"The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." (William Ross Wallace - implies the "heavy" influence of a mother)
"Heavy, heavy hangs over thy head." (A line from the traditional children's game "Heavy, Heavy Hangs")
"I may be a little bit heavy, but that’s the way I like to be." (Dolly Parton - referring to her physical appearance or style)
"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet - "battalions" suggesting a "heavy" accumulation of sorrows)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." (Theodore Roosevelt - the "big stick" metaphorically represents "heavy" influence or power)
"The true genius of a great man is to make all around him feel heavy in comparison." (Apocryphal quote, often attributed to various figures like Oscar Wilde, but widely circulated)
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." (Saint Augustine - while not using "heavy," it implies the "heavy" lack of experience for those who don't explore)
"The heavy weight of the past often prevents us from moving forward." (Lesser-known motivational quote)
Etymology
The word "heavy" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots all the way back to an ancient language from which many European languages developed.
The first known use and meaning of "heavy" in English comes from Old English (the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066). Back then, it was spelled as "hefig" or "hefeġ".
Its original meaning was very similar to what we understand today:
Having much weight: This was the primary sense, referring to something that was difficult to lift or carry due to its physical weight.
But it also had other important meanings:
Important, grave, serious: Think of a "heavy" matter, meaning a serious or significant issue.
Oppressive, grievous: Like a "heavy" burden or sorrow, something that weighs you down emotionally or makes life difficult.
Slow, dull: This referred to something that was sluggish or not quick.
"Hefig" itself came from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, where it was *"*habīgaz," meaning "heavy" or "hefty." This Proto-Germanic word is linked to a very ancient Proto-Indo-European root, keh₂p-, which generally meant "to take, grasp, or hold."
So, you can see how the idea of something being "heavy" originally related to the effort required to "hold" or "grasp" it, implying its weight and the burden it might represent. Over time, the word evolved and expanded its meanings to include not just physical weight, but also seriousness, difficulty, and emotional impact.
Phrases + Idioms Containing heavy
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "heavy," supplemented as needed:
Heavy heart: Feeling sad or sorrowful.
Heavy hitter: A powerful or influential person, especially in business or sports.
Heavy going: Difficult or slow progress.
Heavy hand: Using excessive force or authority.
Heavy lifting: The most difficult or demanding part of a task; significant effort.
Heavy metal: A genre of rock music characterized by loud, distorted guitars and strong rhythms.
Heavy sleeper: Someone who is not easily awakened.
Heavy traffic: A large number of vehicles on the road, causing slow movement.
Heavy drinker/smoker: Someone who consumes alcohol or cigarettes in large quantities.
Make heavy weather of (something): To find something difficult and make it seem harder than it is.
Heavy dose: A significant or large amount (e.g., a heavy dose of medicine, a heavy dose of irony).
Heavy-duty: Designed to withstand great strain, wear, or use; robust.
Heavy atmosphere: A tense, serious, or oppressive mood in a place.
Feel the heavy hand of fate: To experience an unavoidable, often negative, turn of events.
A heavy cross to bear: A difficult burden or problem that one must endure (using "heavy" synonymously with "burdensome").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of heavy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
