heavy lifting

noun

Synonyms of heavy liftingnext
: a burdensome or laborious duty

Examples of heavy lifting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For Minter and DeCosta, the heavy lifting has barely started. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 As was the case with the NHL, alternative platforms did a lot of heavy lifting for the NBA this season, as the league saw a 43% uptick in unique streamers per game. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026 If a youth talent infusion isn’t going to be responsible for sparking an offense that has finished 15th or worse in scoring for three straight seasons, then a scheme infusion will need to do the heavy lifting. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026 Adding this piece is one way to remodel your small space without too much heavy lifting. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy lifting

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heavy lifting was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heavy lifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy%20lifting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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