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REFERENCE

heavy

adj. · n. · v.
US //ˈhɛvi// UK //hˈɛvi// heavy
  1. 1 having great weight (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    having a lot of weight; difficult to lift or move.

    possessing great physical weight; having high mass or density.

    Example

    The suitcase was too heavy for me to carry up the stairs by myself.

    Example

    The movers struggled with the heavy mahogany desk, eventually deciding to disassemble it before attempting the narrow staircase.
  2. 2 intense or great in amount (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    describing something that is very strong or happens a lot, like rain or traffic.

    of great force, power, or intensity; occurring in large quantities or at a high rate.

    Example

    We were late for the movie because of the heavy traffic on the highway.

    Example

    Heavy rainfall throughout the night caused the riverbanks to overflow, threatening several low-lying residential areas.
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  1. 3 doing an activity intensely (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    doing a specific activity more than most people, often something unhealthy.

    engaging in a specified activity with greater intensity or frequency than is typical.

    Example

    My uncle was a heavy smoker for years before he finally decided to quit.

    Example

    The study focused on heavy drinkers, examining the long-term physiological effects of high alcohol consumption over several decades.
  2. 4 serious or difficult (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing a situation or topic that is very serious or sad.

    serious, somber, or oppressive in character; difficult to endure or process emotionally.

    Example

    The atmosphere in the room became heavy after they heard the bad news.

    Example

    The documentary deals with some very heavy themes, including the psychological toll of long-term isolation during the war.
  3. 5 difficult to digest (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    food that makes you feel very full or is hard for your stomach to process.

    containing high proportions of fat or protein; difficult to digest or causing a feeling of excessive fullness.

    Example

    I felt very sleepy after eating such a heavy meal in the middle of the day.

    Example

    The traditional winter pudding was far too heavy for a summer garden party, where guests typically prefer lighter, fruit-based desserts.
  4. 6 tired eyes (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    when your eyelids feel like they want to close because you are very tired.

    describing eyelids that are difficult to keep open due to extreme fatigue or drowsiness.

    Example

    His eyes grew heavy as he tried to finish the last chapter of his book.

    Example

    With heavy eyelids and a fading sense of focus, the night-shift worker struggled to remain attentive during the final hour of his rotation.
  5. 7 a bouncer or villain (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a strong person hired to protect someone or a bad character in a story.

    a person hired for physical protection or enforcement; alternatively, a villainous character in a dramatic production.

    Example

    The club owner hired a couple of heavies to stand by the entrance.

    Example

    In many classic noir films, the protagonist must navigate a dangerous underworld populated by corrupt officials and hired heavies.
  6. 8 to pressure someone (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Dialect

    to use your power or money to force someone to do what you want.

    to exert strong pressure or influence on an individual or organisation to achieve a desired outcome.

    Example

    The big company tried to heavy the local council into approving the new mall.

    Example

    The administration was accused of trying to heavy the independent committee into revising its critical report before the election.
Etymology 1

From Middle English hevy, heviȝ, from Old English hefiġ, hefeġ, hæfiġ (“heavy; important, grave, severe, serious; oppressive, grievous; slow, dull”), from Proto-West Germanic habīg (“heavy, hefty, weighty”), from Proto-Germanic habīgaz (“heavy, hefty, weighty”), from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to take, grasp, hold”). Related to have. Cognate with Scots hevy, havy, heavy (“heavy”), Saterland Frisian heeuwich, häwich (“violent, angry”), West Frisian hevich (“violent”), Dutch hevig (“violent, severe, intense, acute”), German Low German hevig (“violent, fierce, intense, angry”), German hebig (compare heftig (“fierce, severe, intense, violent, heavy”)), Icelandic höfugur (“heavy, weighty, important”), Latin capāx (“large, wide, roomy, spacious, capacious, capable, apt”). Compare typologically Russian объёмный (obʺjómnyj), ёмкий (jómkij) (akin to име́ть (imétʹ), взять (vzjatʹ)).

Etymology 2

From heave + -y.

Word family
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