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
On these blocks, darkened by the presence of heavily armed federal agents, Minnesotans describe routine movements as calculated risks, unsure which block might erupt into confrontation.
—
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
None of us are qualified to coordinate a citywide effort to resist a heavily armed and federally-sanctioned squad of sociopaths, unleashed with total impunity upon everyday citizens.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
At past Grammys, Styles has leaned heavily into theatrical and glitzy style.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2026
The 49ers’ head groundskeeper, Matt Greiner, has been heavily involved in preparing the Super Bowl field.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heavily
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Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
None of us are qualified to coordinate a citywide effort to resist a heavily armed and federally-sanctioned squad of sociopaths, unleashed with total impunity upon everyday citizens.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
At past Grammys, Styles has leaned heavily into theatrical and glitzy style.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2026
The 49ers’ head groundskeeper, Matt Greiner, has been heavily involved in preparing the Super Bowl field.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 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 5 Feb. 2026.
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