heavy

noun

plural heavies

1

: heavyweight sense 2

2

a

: a theatrical role of a dignified or somber character

also : an actor playing such a role

b

: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero : villain sense 1

c

: one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty : villain sense 3

d

: someone or something influential, serious, or important

industry heavies

Synonyms of heavy

• brute
• villain
• monster
• savage
• criminal
• beast
• devil

Examples of heavy in a Sentence

He played the heavy in film after film.

The conference will be attended by several media heavies.

They have become one of the industry heavies.

Recent Examples on the Web

The morning meal is becoming the most protein-heavy of the day in many homes, a notable change from the carb-forward cereals and pastries that once defined the American breakfast table. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026

Even the tech-heavy Nasdaq made it into positive territory. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 June 2026

Soil Begonias need a well-draining, airy, soilless potting mix that is not too peat-heavy, says Christina VanWyk, president of the Delaware Valley Branch of the American Begonia Society. —Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026

According to my mom, allowing the product to sit on these surfaces makes cleaning much less scrubbing-heavy, which is a win in her book. —Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heavy

• go heavy on
• hangs/lies heavy on one's hands
• hard/heavy going
• heavy artillery
• heavy bag
• heavy chain
• heavy cream
• heavy date
• heavy-duty
• heavy-footed
• heavy going
• heavy goods vehicle
• heavy hand
• heavy-handed
• heavy heart
• heavy hitter
• heavy hydrogen
• heavy industry
• heavy lifting
• heavy metal
• heavy on
• heavy on one's hands
• heavy sleeper
• heavy snow
• heavy snowfall
• heavy water
• heavy with
• hot and heavy
• make heavy weather of
• place heavy demands on
• top-heavy
• with a heavy hand

Rhymes for heavy

• bevy
• chevy
• levee
• levy
• replevy

Kids Definition

heavy

1 of 3 adjective

ˈhev-ē 

heavier; heaviest

1

a

: having great weight or greater than usual weight

b

: weighty in proportion to bulk : having a high density

gold is a heavy metal

c

: having or being atoms of greater than normal mass

heavy isotopes

2

: very hard to deal with : grievous

a heavy sorrow

3

: of weighty importance : serious

words heavy with meaning

4

: lacking life, gaiety, or charm : dull

5

: drowsy sense 1

6

: greater in volume, force, or power than the average

heavy traffic

heavy seas

heavy infantry

7

: overcast entry 2

a heavy sky

8

: laborious sense 2, labored

heavy breathing

9

: using or consuming much

a heavy eater

10

: rich and not easily digested

heavy desserts

11

: producing goods (as coal or steel) used in the production of other goods

heavy industry

heavily

ˈhev-ə-lē

adverb

heaviness

ˈhev-ē-nəs

noun

heavy

2 of 3 adverb

: in a heavy manner : heavily

time hung heavy on their hands

heavy

3 of 3 noun

plural heavies

1

: heavyweight sense 2

2

a

: a theatrical role or an actor representing a dignified or impressive person

b

: villain sense 2