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.
But even the best formula isn’t meant to do all the heavy lifting. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 May 2026 The fish does the heavy lifting; just choose your cooking method. Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026 Jacob Trouba and John Carlson shared in the heavy lifting on the back end with LaCombe. Eric Stephens, New York Times, 1 May 2026 Fashion callbacks and iconography are doing heavy lifting, signaling the film understands its own meme economy. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 May 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 4 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on heavy lifting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster