Meaning & use
burly
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having a large, strong, and heavily built body, usually describing a man.
Grammar: Gradable; comparative and superlative forms are 'burlier' and 'burliest'.
Patterns
- a burly man
- burly build
- tall and burly
A burly man in a leather jacket blocked the doorway.
He was tall and burly, with hands like shovels.
The burly bouncer easily lifted the heavy crate.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Large and solid in appearance; often used of objects that look sturdy and heavy.
Grammar: Can describe things as well as people, though less common.
Patterns
- burly tree
- burly piece of furniture
They sat under a burly oak tree that had stood for centuries.
The burly wooden table took four people to move.
Word forms
| comparative | burlier |
|---|---|
| superlative | burliest |
Common combinations
- big and burly
- The wrestler was big and burly, with a loud laugh.
- burly build
- His burly build made him ideal for the role of the giant.
- burly man
- A burly man helped us push the car out of the snow.
- tall and burly
- The guard was tall and burly, but friendly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- muscular
- Focuses on well-developed muscles rather than overall size and heaviness.
- stocky
- Describes a short, broad, and solid build, whereas burly often suggests height as well as strength.
- hefty
- Emphasizes weight or size, not necessarily strength or muscle.
- strapping
- Suggests a young, strong, and healthy build, often with a positive tone; burly is more neutral.
Opposites
Word family
- burliness noun
- The quality of being burly; a strong, heavy build.
Commonly confused: burly or burly vs. burley?
burly vs burly vs. burley
'Burley' is a type of tobacco, not a description of build. Don't mix up the spellings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'burly' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option C correctly describes a large, strong man. Option An is wrong because a kitten is small and weak. Option B is wrong because 'burly' describes build, not clothing. Option D is wrong because 'burly' does not describe food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “burly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.