Word
hefty
US/ˈhɛfti/
UK/hˈɛfti/
Definitions
01large and heavy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. heavy and solid in a way that feels powerful.
adj. possessing significant physical weight and bulk; powerfully built.
“He lifted the hefty suitcase into the overhead bin with both hands.”
“The movers struggled to navigate the narrow staircase while carrying the hefty oak wardrobe, which seemed to weigh more than the rest of the furniture combined.”
02a large amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. large in amount, especially when talking about money or a bill.
adj. impressively large in amount or degree; frequently used to describe financial costs, fines, or rewards.
“The company had to pay a hefty fine for breaking the safety rules.”
“After the unexpected repairs, the homeowner was presented with a hefty bill that far exceeded the original estimate provided by the contractor.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“But such projects come with hefty price tags.” “By now, song collecting was no longer a matter of only transcribing music and lyrics; it also involved using the earliest hefty but portable recording devices.” Etymology
19th century. From heft (“weight”) + -y. The similarity with German heftig (“vigorous, violent, intense”) is apparently coincidental. From the German are Dutch, Danish, Norwegian heftig, Swedish häftig.
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
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