Heavyweight Meaning
/ˈhɛ.vi.weɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA very large, heavy, or impressive person.
nounThe professional boxing weight class for boxers weighing more than 190 pounds; a boxer in that division.
Sentence Examples
He will fight the heavyweight champion tomorrow.
He still holds the heavyweight title.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ boxer easily knocked out his opponent in the first round.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ champion defender his title in a thrilling match that lasted for twelve full rounds.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Germanic *habjaną Proto-West Germanic *habbjan Old English hebban Middle English heven English heave English -y English heavy English weight English heavyweight From heavy + weight.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When Time magazine named Ann Coulter among its 100 "most influential people" last week, alongside such heavyweights as Ariel Sharon, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Kim Jong Il and the Dalai Lama, the choice produced guffaws online."
— 2005 April 19, Eric Boehlert, “Time hearts Ann Coulter”, in Salon, archived from the original on 17 May 2006:
"So Ukraine is on the ropes. Using that boxing metaphor, one immediately thinks of the new world heavyweight champion, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who was seemingly down and out under the ferocious assault of the giant Tyson Fury, but then came back to win on points at the end of a brutal 12 rounds."
— 2024 May 24, Timothy Garton Ash, “Ukraine can still recover with bolder western support – but right now it’s on the ropes”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 14 Dec 2024:
"The Olympics, the weather and a comparative lack of heavyweight clashes so far this season have been cited as reasons for the drop in viewers."
— 2016 October 24, Owen Gibson, “Is the unthinkable happening – are people finally switching the football off?”, in The Guardian, London:
"In recent years, much has been made of the lack of new heavyweight male star power in mainstream Hollywood. Talented performers may be everywhere, but Movie Stars, capital M, capital S, are something else."
— 2021 February 9, Christina Newland, “Is Tom Hanks part of a dying breed of genuine movie stars?”, in BBC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ boxer easily knocked out his opponent in the first round.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ champion defender his title in a thrilling match that lasted for twelve full rounds.