What does bulkily mean?
"Bulkily" is an adverb meaning in a bulky manner — that is, in a way characterized by taking up a lot of space, being large, heavy, or unwieldy. It is formed from the adjective "bulky" by adding the adverbial suffix "-ly." The word most often appears in descriptions of physical objects: furniture that is bulkily constructed, packages that are bulkily wrapped, or garments that are bulkily layered. It can also describe movement or carriage when something is handled in a cumbersome fashion. Because "bulky" itself is far more common, "bulkily" is a relatively rare word in everyday speech, appearing more frequently in written, descriptive prose than in conversation. Its connotations are generally neutral to slightly negative, suggesting awkwardness or inconvenience due to sheer size. Writers reach for it when they want to emphasize not just that something is big, but that its bigness affects how it is made, moved, or worn.
adverbIn a bulky manner; in a way that takes up a lot of space or is large and unwieldy. Often describes how something is built, shaped, or carried.
- In a bulky manner; with great size or volume taking up considerable space.
- (Of clothing or fabric) In a thick, puffy, or voluminous way.
"The sofa was bulkily constructed, making it nearly impossible to carry up the narrow staircase."
"The parcel was bulkily wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap."
"He dressed bulkily for the winter hike, layering sweaters under his parka."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bulkily
"Bulkily" derives from the adjective "bulky," which in turn comes from the noun "bulk," meaning mass or size. The noun "bulk" entered English in the late Middle Ages, likely via Old Norse "búlkr" (cargo, ship's hold), giving us both the shipping sense of "bulk" goods and the sense of large size. The suffix "-ly" was added to form this adverb, following a productive pattern in English morphology.
How bulkily is actually used
"Bulkily" is a relatively uncommon adverb, derived from the adjective "bulky." It tends to appear in descriptive writing about physical objects, packaging, or clothing rather than in abstract contexts.
Easily confused with bulkily
"Bulky" is the adjective describing something large and unwieldy, while "bulkily" is the adverb describing the manner in which an action is performed.