heavily

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'heavily' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb and is used to describe physical action or the manner in which something is done. For example: "The snow was heavily falling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps even more worrying to Mr. Assad, his military has come to rely more heavily on equipment designed for a major battle with a foreign enemy, namely Israel, rather than a protracted civil conflict with his own people.

The New York Times

In reality, the effect on MPs' seats is more complex to measure as voters are not spread evenly across constituencies: some areas within may heavily favour one party, others its main rival.

The Guardian

Instead, the report will probably rely heavily on open sources, as Nemtsov's past reports on state corruption did.

The Guardian

The supreme court is heavily entwined in the Hill case because it was the court's own 2002 ruling, Atkins v Virginia, that banned the death sentence for "mentally retarded" prisoners.

The Guardian

Nigel looked at his heavily annotated Wainwright guide.

The Guardian - Travel

Other heavily criticised initiatives were the introduction of spot checks in London tube stations.

The Guardian

Only once, in Brisbane in 1928-29, the match in which Donald Bradman made his debut and saw his side defeated by a barely comprehensible 675 runs, has Australia lost as heavily as this in terms of runs.

The Guardian - Sport

Yes Scotland believed those rare or reluctant voters – mostly poor, working class voters in marginalised communities, were heavily inclined to vote yes and would turn out in far higher numbers than a normal election.

The Guardian

Monckton's men ended up in a heavily forested region now known as the eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick where, following a two-week siege, they captured an area previously controlled by French Acadian settlers.

The Guardian - Sport

The Mid-Staffordshire scandal and heavily scrutinised performance of emergency departments earlier in the year are examples of the sort if criticism turning people off from joining the NHS, Bajorek said.

The Guardian

Ancelotti was heavily criticised for Real's performance in Turin and for playing the centre-back Sergio Ramos in midfield where he struggled.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heavily" to emphasize a substantial impact or degree, but avoid overuse to maintain the impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "heavily" with verbs that already imply a strong degree. For example, instead of "heavily destroyed", simply use "destroyed" as the intensity is already implied.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "heavily" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a high degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as demonstrated in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "heavily" is a versatile intensifier used to indicate a great degree or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media. While it can be replaced by synonyms like "to a great extent" or "significantly", care should be taken to ensure the substitute maintains the intended nuance. It is also crucial to avoid misusing "heavily" with verbs that already imply a strong degree, ensuring precision and impact in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To a great extent

Emphasizes the degree or scope of something, similar to "heavily".

Significantly

Highlights the importance or impact of something.

Substantially

Implies a considerable amount or degree.

Considerably

Indicates a noticeable or appreciable amount.

Intensely

Suggests a high degree of concentration or force.

Extensively

Refers to a wide scope or range.

Profoundly

Highlights a deep or significant impact.

Severely

Indicates a harsh or critical degree.

Markedly

Emphasizes a noticeable difference or change.

Strongly

Indicates force or intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "heavily" in a sentence?

You can use "heavily" to indicate a great degree or intensity. For example, "The team relied "heavily on" data analysis for their decisions."

What are some alternatives to using "heavily"?

Alternatives include "to a great extent", "significantly", or "substantially", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is "heavily damaged"?

While grammatically correct, consider using a stronger verb like "severely damaged" or "destroyed" for a more impactful statement. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "heavily influenced" and "strongly influenced"?

"Heavily influenced" suggests a large degree of impact, while "strongly influenced" implies a powerful force of influence. The difference is subtle but relates to the perceived intensity and source of the impact.