B1adverb 2K

Heavily

UK /["/ˈhevɪli/"]/ US /["/ˈhevɪli/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

to a great degree; in large amounts

Listen to definition

In simple words: A lot or to a great degree.

Examples

• The rain fell heavily all night, causing flooding in several areas.
• She was breathing heavily after running up the hill.
• The truck was heavily loaded with goods.
• He invested heavily in the stock market during the boom.
• The heavily armored vehicle was designed for combat.

Usage notes

Use 'heavily' to describe actions done with great intensity or amount. It's neutral, but can sound more formal in certain contexts, like writing.

Grammar pattern

heavily + verb

Memory hint

Think of a heavy weight pressing down—when something is done heavily, it feels like it's weighted down.

Collocations

• heavily loaded
• heavily armed
• heavily criticized
• heavily dependent
• heavily influenced

Synonyms

• intensely
• seriously
• greatly
• profoundly
• strongly

Antonyms

• lightly
• gently

Common mistakes

• Used incorrectly with non-action verbs (e.g., saying 'heavily is happy').
• Confused with 'hard' (e.g., saying 'heavily' when 'hard' is more suitable).