# heavily

Pronunciation: say "HEV-i-lee" /ˈhɛvɪli/

## Adverb

1. To a great degree or in large amounts, sometimes so that something becomes thick or dense.
   - Simple: Very much or in large amounts, sometimes so much that something becomes thick or dense.
   - _The new policy borrows heavily from earlier reforms._
   - _The guards at the border crossing were heavily armed._
2. With great weight or force pressing downward.
   - Simple: With a lot of weight, in a way that feels heavy.
   - _The exhausted hiker dropped heavily onto the bench._
   - _The anchor settled heavily into the muddy seabed._
3. In a labored manner, with visible effort or difficulty.
   - Simple: In a way that takes a lot of effort or is hard to do.
   - _The old dog plodded heavily across the yard toward its bed._
   - _He sighed heavily before delivering the bad news._
4. In a manner built to withstand demanding or rough use.
   - Simple: In a strong way, built to handle hard or rough use.
   - _The bridge was heavily constructed to support freight trains._
   - _Military trucks are heavily built so they can cross rough ground for years without breaking down._

## Origin

Old English had hefiġlīċe ("heavily; grievously"), which became Middle English hevely and then the modern word; it amounts to heavy plus the suffix -ly.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/heavily (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).