VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

heavier

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈhev.i.ə/
US/ˈhev.i.ɚ/

“heavier” is a form of “heavy”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Weighing more than something else, or more than before.

    Grammar: Comparative of heavy; often followed by than: this box is heavier than that one.

    Patterns

    • heavier than something
    • get heavier

    The blue suitcase is heavier than the red one.

    My backpack feels heavier every day.

    Gold is much heavier than aluminum.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Greater in amount, force or intensity.

    Grammar: Describes rain, traffic, losses, sleep and more: heavier rain.

    Patterns

    • heavier rain
    • heavier traffic

    Heavier rain is expected on Friday.

    The road had heavier traffic than usual.

    The team suffered heavier losses in the second half.

  3. adjectivecomparable

    More serious or hard to bear, in tone or feeling.

    Grammar: Used for topics, moods or workloads: a heavier subject.

    Patterns

    • a heavier mood
    • a heavier workload

    The second film has a heavier tone than the first.

    Her heart grew heavier as the day went on.

    Our workload is heavier this month.

Common combinations

heavier than air
Planes are heavier than air, yet they fly.
heavier rain
Heavier rain arrived by evening.
heavier workload
She has a heavier workload now.
get heavier
The bag got heavier with every step.
much heavier
This pan is much heavier than it looks.

Synonyms and how they differ

weightier
Weightier is formal and usually describes ideas, not objects.
bulkier
Bulkier means taking up more space, not necessarily weighing more.
harder
Harder can replace heavier for tasks, but it does not describe weight.
more intense
More intense suits feelings and force, not weight.

Opposites

lighter

Word family

heavy adjective
weighing a lot, or great in amount
heaviest adjective
superlative of heavy
heavily adverb
to a great degree or with great weight
heaviness noun
the quality of being heavy
heave verb
to lift or pull something heavy with effort

Commonly confused: heavier or more heavy?

heavier vs more heavy

Heavy is a short adjective that forms its comparative by changing -y to -ier, so say heavier, not more heavy.

Practice

This parcel is ___ than the one I carried yesterday.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “heavier”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words