- 1to a great degree; in large amounts It was raining heavily. to drink/smoke heavily. to be bleeding heavily to be heavily taxed heavily armed police (= carrying a lot of weapons) a heavily pregnant woman (= one whose baby is nearly ready to be born) They are both heavily involved in politics. He relies heavily on his parents. She has been heavily criticized in the press.
- 2with a lot of force or effort She fell heavily to the ground.
- 3heavily built (of a person) with a large, solid, and strong body
- 4slowly and loudly She was now breathing heavily. He was snoring heavily.
- 5in a slow way that sounds as though you are worried or sad He sighed heavily.
- 6in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or anxious Silence hung heavily in the room. The burden of guilt weighed heavily on his mind.
- 7heavily loaded/laden full of or loaded with heavy things a heavily loaded van The ship was heavily laden on the return voyage.
Check pronunciation: heavily