heavily

adverb

heavi·​ly ˈhe-və-lē 

1

: to a great degree : severely

The building was heavily damaged.

The decision weighs heavily on my mind. [=is very difficult and worrisome]

2

: slowly and laboriously : dully

sighed heavily

3

archaic : with sorrow : grievously

4

: in a heavy manner

sat down heavily

Synonyms of heavily

• extremely
• highly
• terribly
• very
• incredibly
• badly
• severely
• too
• so
• intensely
• greatly
• damned
• desperately
• really
• damn
• seriously
• wildly
• far
• much
• especially
• most

Examples of heavily in a Sentence

He relies heavily on his wife for advice.

These artists borrow heavily from Picasso.

Our flowers were heavily damaged by a late spring frost.

She drank and smoked heavily for years.

He sat down heavily on the couch.

He was leaning heavily on the table.

She sighed heavily then said “Okay, I'll do it.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Imhauser, while involved heavily in town activities, doesn’t really have the knowledge to say whether the state fair could ever leave Sedalia. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026

The testimony is expected to focus heavily on dueling psychiatric and medical experts testifying about postpartum mental illness. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

The structure leans heavily on concrete, steel and glass, but it’s warmed by wood, basalt and marble finishes and by the way the house frames the surrounding terrain. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Twain wrote or co-wrote the majority of the album, borrowing heavily from country, blues, gospel, soul, and rock—textures better suited to her lower register than the pop stylings of her last two releases. — Amanda Wicks, Pitchfork, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heavily

• heavily armed

Rhymes for heavily

• evilly