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
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
Jaffery said that the Latino population relies heavily on corn masa products in their daily diet rather than flour and other grain products that are enriched with folic acid.
—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Though the Heat is returning home for three games, Miami won’t be heavily favored to win any of them.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleanup efforts — including efforts to reduce the amount of sewage, fertilizer and petroleum products being rinsed into the lagoon — are heavily dependent on cities and counties.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.
—Charlotte Kramon, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heavily
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Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Though the Heat is returning home for three games, Miami won’t be heavily favored to win any of them.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Cleanup efforts — including efforts to reduce the amount of sewage, fertilizer and petroleum products being rinsed into the lagoon — are heavily dependent on cities and counties.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.
—Charlotte Kramon, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heavily
Cite this Entry
“Heavily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavily. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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