Heavy vs. Big — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 26, 2024
Heavy refers to something with substantial weight, often implying a burden, while big describes sheer size or volume.
Difference Between Heavy and Big
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "heavy" typically denotes weight, suggesting something is difficult to lift or carry. In contrast, "big" refers primarily to size, encompassing dimensions like height, width, and depth. This distinction is important when evaluating objects like furniture or vehicles, where both attributes can affect usability and functionality.
Heavy objects exert more force under gravity, impacting how they can be handled or moved. Whereas big items might not necessarily be heavy, they require more space and may be cumbersome in different ways, such as during transportation or storage.
In some contexts, heavy implies a figurative burden, such as "heavy responsibilities" or "a heavy heart." On the other hand, big can denote importance or prominence, as in "a big opportunity" or "big news," focusing more on the scale of impact rather than emotional or physical weight.
When describing materials, heavy is often associated with density and solidity, suggesting robust and durable characteristics. Meanwhile, big in this context might simply imply that the material is available in large quantities or dimensions, useful in industries like construction.
In fitness and health, heavy is used to describe weights or intense workout routines, emphasizing the challenge and effort required. Big, however, is often used to describe physical appearance, such as someone being big due to muscle mass or body size, highlighting different physical attributes.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Having great weight
Having large size or extent
Implied Usage
Difficulty in movement or carrying
Need for more space or capacity
Figurative Sense
Burdensome, serious
Important, extensive
Contextual Example
Heavy lifting, heavy load
Big room, big event
Related to
Weight
Volume, area, or size
Compare with Definitions
Heavy
Having great weight.
The old shelf was too heavy to move alone.
Big
Generous or magnanimous.
He's always been big on helping others.
Heavy
Of great density or intensity.
The fog was heavy and visibility was low.
Big
Of considerable size or extent.
The big stadium can hold thousands of spectators.
Heavy
Severe or profound.
The documentary tackled some heavy topics.
Big
Of major significance or importance.
She landed a big deal that could define her career.
Heavy
Substantial in amount or degree.
The project required heavy investment.
Big
Grown-up or mature.
Her kids are big enough to walk to school by themselves.
Heavy
Weighed down by a lot of something.
His eyes were heavy with sleep.
Big
Exaggerating or boastful.
He's big on making promises he can't keep.
Heavy
Of great weight; difficult to lift or move
A heavy and bulky load
The pan was too heavy for me to carry
Big
Of considerable size or extent
Big staff cuts
Big buildings
Her big hazel eyes
Heavy
Of great density; thick or substantial
Heavy horn-rimmed glasses
Heavy grey clouds
Big
Of considerable importance or seriousness
It's a big decision
His biggest problem is money
He made a big mistake
Heavy
Of more than the usual size, amount, or intensity
A heavy cold
I fell into a heavy sleep
The traffic was heavy and I was delayed
Big
Generous
‘I'm inclined to take pity on you.’ ‘That's big of you!’
Heavy
Striking or falling with force
A heavy blow to the head
We had heavy overnight rain
Big
Praise or recommend something highly
The record's been on the streets a while now, but it's still worth bigging up
Heavy
Needing much physical effort
Heavy work like repairing pathways
Big
The major league in a professional sport
The day he made it to the bigs, he forgot every minor league ballpark he ever played in
Heavy
Very important or serious
A heavy discussion
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Heavy
A thing, such as a vehicle, that is large or heavy of its kind.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Heavy
Strong beer, especially bitter
A pint of heavy
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Heavy
Heavily
Heavy-laden
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Heavy
Having relatively great weight
A heavy load.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Heavy
Having relatively high density; having a high specific gravity.
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Heavy
Large, as in number or quantity
A heavy turnout.
Heavy casualties.
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Heavy
Large in yield or output
Heavy rainfall.
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
Heavy
Of great intensity
Heavy activity.
Heavy fighting.
Big
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Heavy
Having great power or force
A heavy punch.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Heavy
Violent; rough
Heavy seas.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Heavy
Equipped with massive armaments and weapons
A heavy cruiser.
Heavy infantry.
Big
(Informal) Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular
"The Minneapolis indie-rock band was big in the blogosphere, beloved by hipsters, and unknown to pretty much everyone else" (Robert Levine).
Heavy
Large enough to fire powerful shells
Heavy guns.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Heavy
Indulging to a great degree
A heavy drinker.
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
Heavy
Involved or participating on a large scale
A heavy investor.
Big
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Heavy
Of great import or seriousness; grave
Heavy matters of state.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Heavy
Having considerable thickness
A heavy coat.
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Heavy
Broad or coarse
Drew the face with heavy lines.
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Heavy
Dense; thick
A heavy fog.
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Heavy
Slow to dissipate; strong
"There was a heavy fragrance of flowers and lemon trees" (Mario Puzo).
Big
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Heavy
Too dense or rich to digest easily
A heavy dessert.
Big
.informal Mature, conscientious, principled; generous.
That's very big of you; thank you!
I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.
Heavy
Insufficiently leavened
Heavy bread.
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Heavy
Full of clay and readily saturated
Heavy soil.
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Heavy
Weighed down; burdened
Trees heavy with plums.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Heavy
Emotionally weighed down; despondent
A heavy heart.
Big
(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
Heavy
Marked by or exhibiting weariness
Heavy lids.
Big
Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
There were concerns about the ethics of big pharma.
Big money
Big Tech, Big Steel (large or influential tech or steel companies)
Big Science (science performed by large terms, of large scope, with government or corporate funding)
Heavy
Sad or painful
Heavy news.
Big
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Heavy
Hard to do or accomplish; arduous
Heavy going.
Heavy reading.
Big
In a loud manner.
Heavy
Not easily borne; oppressive
Heavy taxes.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Heavy
Lacking vitality; deficient in vivacity or grace
A heavy gait.
Heavy humor.
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Heavy
Sharply inclined; steep
A heavy grade.
Big
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Heavy
Having a large capacity or designed for rough work
A heavy truck.
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Heavy
Of, relating to, or involving the large-scale production of basic products, such as steel
Heavy industry.
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Heavy
Of or relating to a serious dramatic role.
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
Heavy
(Physics) Of or relating to an isotope with an atomic mass greater than the average mass of that element.
Big
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
Heavy
Loud; sonorous
A heavy sound.
Heavy breathing.
Big
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Heavy
(Linguistics) Of, relating to, or being a syllable ending in a long vowel or in a vowel plus two consonants.
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Heavy
Of great significance or profundity.
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Heavy
Very popular or important
A rock star who is really heavy.
Big
To locate oneself.
Heavy
Heavily
The snow is falling heavier tonight than last night.
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Heavy
A serious or tragic role in a play.
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Heavy
An actor playing such a role.
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Heavy
(Slang) A villain in a story or play.
Big
Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; - often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.
Heavy
(Slang) A mobster.
Big
Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride.
God hath not in heaven a bigger argument.
I talked big to them at first.
Heavy
(Slang) One that is very important or influential
A media heavy.
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
Heavy
(of a physical object) Having great weight.
Big
To build.
Heavy
(of a topic) Serious, somber.
Big
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
Heavy
Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive.
Heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
Big
Significant;
Graduation was a big day in his life
Heavy
Good.
This film is heavy.
Big
Of very great significance;
Deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision
A momentous event
Heavy
Profound.
The Moody Blues are, like, heavy.
Big
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
Heavy
(of a rate of flow) High, great.
Big
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Heavy
(slang) Armed.
Come heavy, or not at all.
Big
Loud and firm;
A big voice
Big bold piano sounds
Heavy
(of music) Loud, distorted, or intense.
Metal is heavier than rock.
Big
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Heavy
(of weather) Hot and humid.
Big
Marked by intense physical force;
A big wind
Heavy
(of a person) Doing the specified activity more intensely than most other people.
He was a heavy sleeper, a heavy eater and a heavy smoker – certainly not an ideal husband.
Big
Feeling self-importance;
Too big for his britches
Had a swelled head
He was swelled with pride
Heavy
(of the eyes) With eyelids difficult to keep open due to tiredness.
Big
Older brother or sister;
Big sister
Heavy
(of food) High in fat or protein; difficult to digest.
Cheese-stuffed sausage is too heavy to eat before exercising.
Big
Exhibiting self-importance;
Big talk
Heavy
Of great force, power, or intensity; deep or intense.
It was a heavy storm;
A heavy slumber in bed;
A heavy punch
Big
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
Heavy
Laden to a great extent.
His eyes were heavy with sleep;
She was heavy with child
Big
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Heavy
Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with grief, pain, disappointment, etc.
Big
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Heavy
Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid.
A heavy gait, looks, manners, style, etc.
A heavy writer or book
Big
Extremely well;
His performance went over big
Heavy
Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey.
A heavy road; a heavy soil
Big
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Heavy
Not raised or leavened.
Heavy bread
Big
On a grand scale;
Think big
Heavy
(of wines or spirits) Having much body or strength.
Big
In a major way;
The play failed big at the box office
Heavy
(obsolete) With child; pregnant.
Heavy
(physics) Containing one or more isotopes that are heavier than the normal one.
Heavy
(petroleum) Having high viscosity.
Heavy
(finance) Of a market: in which the price of shares is declining.
Heavy
Heavily-armed.
Heavy
Having a relatively high takeoff weight and payload,
Heavy
Especially, having a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 300,000 tons, as almost all widebodies do, generating high wake turbulence.
Heavy
Having the heaves.
A heavy horse
Heavy
In a heavy manner; weightily; heavily; gravely.
Heavy laden with their sins
Heavy
To a great degree; greatly.
Heavy
Very
Heavy
(slang) A villain or bad guy; the one responsible for evil or aggressive acts.
With his wrinkled, uneven face, the actor always seemed to play the heavy in films.
Heavy
(slang) A doorman, bouncer or bodyguard.
A fight started outside the bar but the heavies came out and stopped it.
Heavy
A newspaper of the quality press.
Heavy
(aviation) A relatively large multi-engined aircraft.
Heavy
(often with "up") To make heavier.
They piled their goods on the donkey's back, heavying up an already backbreaking load.
Heavy
To sadden. en
Heavy
To use power or wealth to exert influence on, e.g., governments or corporations; to pressure.
The union was well known for the methods it used to heavy many businesses.
Heavy
Having the heaves.
Heavy
Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
Heavy
Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
Sent hither to impart the heavy news.
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.
Heavy
Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment.
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband.
Heavy
Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book.
Whilst the heavy plowman snores.
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.
Heavy
Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.
Heavy
Loud; deep; - said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
Heavy
Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; - said of the sky.
Heavy
Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; - said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like.
Heavy
Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
Heavy
Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; - said of food.
Heavy
Having much body or strength; - said of wines, or other liquors.
Heavy
With child; pregnant.
Heavy
Heavily; - sometimes used in composition; as, heavy-laden.
Heavy
To make heavy.
Heavy
An actor who plays villainous roles
Heavy
A serious (or tragic) role in a play
Heavy
Of comparatively great physical weight or density;
A heavy load
Lead is a heavy metal
Heavy mahogony furniture
Heavy
Unusually great in degree or quantity or number;
Heavy taxes
A heavy fine
Heavy casualties
Heavy losses
Heavy rain
Heavy traffic
Heavy
Of the military or industry; using (or being) the heaviest and most powerful armaments or weapons or equipment;
Heavy artillery
Heavy infantry
A heavy cruiser
Heavy guns
Heavy industry involves large-scale production of basic products (such as steel) used by other industries
Heavy
Having or suggesting a viscous consistency;
Heavy cream
Heavy
Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark
Heavy
Marked by great psychological weight; weighted down especially with sadness or troubles or weariness;
A heavy heart
A heavy schedule
Heavy news
A heavy silence
Heavy eyelids
Heavy
Usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it
Heavy
(used of soil) compact and fine-grained;
The clayey soil was heavy and easily saturated
Heavy
Darkened by clouds;
A heavy sky
Heavy
Of great intensity or power or force;
A heavy blow
The fighting was heavy
Heavy seas
Heavy
(physics, chemistry) being or containing an isotope with greater than average atomic mass or weight;
Heavy hydrogen
Heavy water
Heavy
(of an actor or role) being or playing the villain;
Iago is the heavy role in `Othello'
Heavy
Permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter;
Dense smoke
Heavy fog
Impenetrable gloom
Heavy
Made of fabric having considerable thickness;
A heavy coat
Heavy
Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker
Heavy
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Heavy
Used of syllables or musical beats
Heavy
Full and loud and deep;
Heavy sounds
A herald chosen for his sonorous voice
Heavy
Of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought;
Grave responsibilities
Faced a grave decision in a time of crisis
A grievous fault
Heavy matters of state
The weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference
Heavy
Slow and laborious because of weight;
The heavy tread of tired troops
Moved with a lumbering sag-bellied trot
Ponderous prehistoric beasts
A ponderous yawn
Heavy
Large and powerful; especially designed for heavy loads or rough work;
A heavy truck
Heavy machinery
Heavy
Dense or inadequately leavened and hence likely to cause distress in the alimentary canal;
A heavy pudding
Heavy
Sharply inclined;
A heavy grade
Heavy
Full of; bearing great weight;
Trees heavy with fruit
Vines weighed down with grapes
Heavy
Requiring or showing effort;
Heavy breathing
The subject made for labored reading
Heavy
Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace
Heavy
Lacking lightness or liveliness;
Heavy humor
A leaden conversation
Heavy
(of sleep) deep and complete;
A heavy sleep
Fell into a profound sleep
A sound sleeper
Deep wakeless sleep
Heavy
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Heavy
Slowly as if burdened by much weight;
Time hung heavy on their hands
Common Curiosities
Can a big object also be heavy?
Yes, an object can be both big and heavy, but being big doesn't necessarily mean it's heavy.
Why might someone prefer a big car?
People might prefer big cars for more interior space, comfort, or safety perceptions.
What are some synonyms for big?
Large, massive, and gigantic are some synonyms for big.
What are some synonyms for heavy?
Some synonyms for heavy include ponderous, hefty, and weighty.
In what context might big be used metaphorically?
Big can be used to describe the importance or impact, such as "big ideas."
How does heavy differ from weighty in usage?
"Heavy" often refers to actual weight, whereas "weighty" can imply significance or seriousness of non-physical aspects.
What does it mean when a person is described as heavy?
It often means they are physically weighty or could imply they carry a serious demeanor.
How do children typically use the word big?
Children use "big" to describe things that appear large to them, often in physical size.
In what context might heavy be used metaphorically?
It can be used to describe emotional burdens or serious situations, such as "heavy heart."
Is there a cultural significance to the terms heavy or big?
Yes, in many cultures, being "heavy" can be associated with wealth or health, whereas "big" can signify success or abundance.
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Maham Liaqat
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Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
