What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overweight
Example
She was told by her doctor that she was overweight and needed to lose some pounds. [overweight: adjective]
Example
Being overweight can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. [overweight: noun]
heavy
Example
The box was too heavy for me to carry alone. [heavy: adjective]
Example
He was a heavy man with broad shoulders and a deep voice. [heavy: adjective]
Example
She felt heavy-hearted after hearing the bad news. [heavy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Heavy is more commonly used than overweight in everyday language. Heavy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overweight is more technical and specific to health-related discussions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overweight and heavy?
Overweight is more formal and technical than heavy, which is more informal and can be used in various contexts.
