Word
bulky
US/ˈbəɫki/
UK/bˈʌlki/
Definition
adj. large and difficult to carry or move because of its size or shape. It describes things that take up a lot of space but are not necessarily heavy.
adj. having a large volume or size that makes handling, storage, or transport difficult. Often used to describe physical objects that are awkwardly shaped or take up significant space.
Examples
“The winter coat is too bulky to fit in my small suitcase.”
“The delivery driver struggled to get the bulky package through the narrow apartment doorway.”
“Modern electronics have replaced bulky vacuum tubes with tiny transistors, allowing devices to become significantly more portable without sacrificing processing power.”
Examples
simple
“The winter coat is too bulky to fit in my small suitcase.”
contextual
“The delivery driver struggled to get the bulky package through the narrow apartment doorway.”
complex
“Modern electronics have replaced bulky vacuum tubes with tiny transistors, allowing devices to become significantly more portable without sacrificing processing power.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be', 'look', or 'feel'.
Real-World Examples
“It’s hardly any more bulky than a traditional smartphone, but it’s a tablet that fits in your pocket.” Etymology
From Middle English bulki, boulky, equivalent to bulk + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/bulky