heavily

adverb

heavi·​ly ˈhe-və-lē How to pronounce heavily (audio)
1
: to a great degree : severely
2
: slowly and laboriously : dully
3
archaic : with sorrow : grievously
4
: in a heavy manner

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The pressure leading attorneys to rely more heavily on generative AI has already led to several high-profile mistakes. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2025 The risk increases when applicants rely too heavily on AI without adding their unique perspective and experiences to differentiate themselves from other candidates using similar tools. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025 Like many citrus fruits, the cost of oranges is heavily tied to the harvesting season. Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 19 July 2025 What tariffs mean for your wallet Tariffs – and their potential impact on shopper's budgets – are weighing heavily on consumers. Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavily

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of heavily was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Heavily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavily. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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