bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē How to pronounce bulky (audio)
 also  ˈbu̇l-
bulkier; bulkiest
1
a
: having bulk
b(1)
: large of its kind
(2)
2
: having great volume in proportion to weight
a bulky knit sweater
bulkily adverb
bulkiness noun

Examples of bulky in a Sentence

a big, bulky football player bulky packages might cost more to mail
Recent Examples on the Web However, frequency combs typically require bulky, costly, and power-hungry equipment. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2024 Keep In Mind Because of some of its extra features, the Empower is both heavy and somewhat bulky. Sarah Bradley, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 However, a car seat is bulky to carry through the airport. Cecily McAndrews, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 The crewneck sweatshirt is bound to feel less bulky than a hoodie, complete with ribbed hems and fabric that keeps moisture at bay. Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Behind me, a couple begins having a heated tiff about who should be carrying a particularly bulky suitcase. Jessica Burrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 The device is too heavy, bulky, intrusive and expensive to achieve mass adoption at this time. Walter Loeb, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The designers focused on toe shape for good flick, rubber that wasn’t too bulky and had a smooth texture for consistent response on grip tape and lace loops to keep the laces and shoe as durable as possible. Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 On the other hand, optical analog computers can also be bulky and vulnerable to imperfections in optical components, generating errors in the computation that can quickly snowball. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulky was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near bulky

Cite this Entry

“Bulky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulky. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bulky

adjective
bulkier; bulkiest
1
: large in size or mass
2
: being large and hard to handle
bulkiness noun

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