bulky
Explanation of bulky at your level:
You use bulky when something is very big. If a bag is too big to carry, you can say it is bulky. It is not easy to move. Think of a big box or a large toy. You do not like bulky things because they are hard to hold.
When you go shopping, you might buy a bulky coat for winter. It is warm, but it is also very large. Bulky means something is big and takes up a lot of space. It is often hard to put bulky items in a small car or a small bag.
We use the word bulky to describe items that are large and awkward to handle. For example, moving a bulky piece of furniture like a sofa is difficult. It is not just about the weight; it is about the shape and size. If something is bulky, it is usually inconvenient to store or transport.
The term bulky is frequently used in logistics and daily life to denote items that are cumbersome. Unlike 'heavy,' which focuses on mass, 'bulky' emphasizes the physical dimensions that make an object difficult to manage. You might see signs for 'bulky waste' at a recycling center, referring to items like mattresses or refrigerators that require special handling.
In more advanced contexts, bulky can describe anything that lacks compactness. It is often used in technical or architectural discussions to describe structures that appear visually heavy or disproportionate. While it usually describes physical objects, it can occasionally be used metaphorically to describe processes or reports that are unnecessarily long and difficult to navigate, though this is less common than its literal use.
At the C2 level, you should recognize that bulky is rooted in the concept of 'mass' and 'heap.' Its usage is precise: it distinguishes between weight and volume. A feather pillow might be bulky but not heavy, whereas a lead brick is heavy but not bulky. Understanding this nuance allows you to describe physical environments and logistics with high accuracy. In literary contexts, it can evoke a sense of something imposing or overwhelming, adding a layer of descriptive depth to your writing.
bulky in 30 Seconds
- Bulky means large and awkward to handle.
- It focuses on volume, not weight.
- Commonly used for furniture and packages.
- It is an adjective.
Hey there! Have you ever tried to move a couch by yourself? That feeling of it being just too big and awkward to grab onto—that is the definition of bulky. It is not necessarily about the weight, though they often go together; it is about the volume and the shape.
When we say something is bulky, we are usually complaining a little bit about how much space it takes up. Think of a thick, puffy winter jacket that makes it hard to move your arms, or a large cardboard box that won't fit through your front door. It is a very useful word for describing things that are just plain inconvenient to deal with because of their size.
The word bulky is derived from the noun bulk, which has been around since the 14th century. It originally referred to the cargo of a ship or the size of a person's body. The suffix -y was added later to turn it into an adjective.
The root likely traces back to Old Norse búlki, meaning a heap or a cargo. It is fascinating how a word that started by describing the contents of a ship's hold evolved to describe anything from a thick sweater to an oversized piece of office equipment. It has stayed fairly consistent in meaning, always keeping that sense of 'mass' or 'heap' at its core.
You will hear bulky in both casual and formal settings. In casual conversation, you might say, 'This bulky backpack is killing my shoulders.' In a more professional or shipping context, you might hear, 'We charge extra for bulky items because they take up more room on the truck.'
Common collocations include bulky items, bulky waste, and bulky clothing. It is a neutral word, but it carries a slight negative connotation because nobody really likes dealing with things that are hard to move!
While bulky itself isn't a core part of many fixed idioms, it is often used in descriptive phrases:
- Bulky waste collection: A service provided by cities to remove large items like sofas.
- Bulk up: To gain muscle mass through exercise and diet.
- In bulk: Buying large quantities of something at once.
- The bulk of: The majority part of something.
- Bulk large: To seem very important or significant.
Bulky is a standard adjective. It follows the regular comparative and superlative forms: bulkier and bulkiest. You will usually see it placed before a noun, like 'a bulky package,' or after a linking verb, like 'the item is bulky.'
Pronunciation: In the UK, it is ˈbʌl.ki. In the US, it is also ˈbʌl.ki. It rhymes with sulky, milky, and silky. The stress is on the first syllable, which is a classic pattern for many two-syllable adjectives in English.
Fun Fact
It originally referred to the cargo in a ship's hold!
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'bull-kee'
Sounds like 'bull-kee'
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'l' too softly
- stressing the second syllable
- rhyming with 'key' instead of 'kee'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective order
A big, bulky box.
Comparative adjectives
This is bulkier than that.
Using 'too' for emphasis
It is too bulky.
Examples by Level
The box is bulky.
The box is big and hard to move.
Adjective after verb.
I have a bulky bag.
My bag is too big.
Adjective before noun.
It is a bulky coat.
The coat is very thick.
Simple adjective use.
The sofa is bulky.
The couch is large.
Describing furniture.
That is a bulky item.
That thing is big.
Formal item usage.
My desk is bulky.
My desk takes up space.
Describing office furniture.
Is the gift bulky?
Is the present big?
Question form.
The chair is too bulky.
The chair is too big.
Using 'too' for emphasis.
The delivery man struggled with the bulky package.
I need a smaller bag; this one is too bulky.
She wore a bulky sweater to stay warm.
Moving bulky furniture requires two people.
The closet is full of bulky winter clothes.
We left the bulky suitcases at the hotel.
That machine is very bulky and takes up half the room.
He tried to hide the bulky gift behind his back.
The airline charges extra for bulky sports equipment.
It is difficult to find storage for such bulky items.
The new printer is less bulky than the old one.
She bought a bulky camera that was hard to carry.
The bulky insulation made the walls look thicker.
We need to clear out the bulky waste from the garage.
Despite its bulky appearance, the car is quite fast.
The instructions were hidden inside the bulky manual.
The city offers a special pickup service for bulky household items.
His bulky frame made it hard for him to navigate the narrow aisle.
The design of the device is sleek, not bulky.
I prefer a laptop that isn't too bulky for my briefcase.
The bulky nature of the equipment makes it unsuitable for air travel.
She struggled to maneuver the bulky stroller through the crowd.
The bulky manuscript was difficult to edit on the go.
They designed the house to avoid a bulky, imposing look.
The bulky architecture of the building dominates the skyline.
The company is trying to streamline its bulky administrative processes.
The bulky, outdated server room was replaced with cloud storage.
His bulky attire was completely inappropriate for the formal event.
The bulky report contained too much unnecessary data.
The bulky, ornate furniture felt out of place in the minimalist room.
He had to dismantle the bulky apparatus to fit it through the door.
The bulky, oversized packaging was criticized for being wasteful.
The bulky, archaic machinery was a relic of the industrial age.
The bulky, voluminous skirts were the height of fashion in that era.
The bulky, cumbersome legal documents were a nightmare to process.
The bulky, imposing fortress stood as a silent witness to history.
The bulky, unrefined prose made the novel difficult to read.
She navigated the bulky, complex bureaucracy with surprising ease.
The bulky, heavy-duty fabric was designed to withstand harsh weather.
The bulky, sprawling estate required a massive staff to maintain.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"bulk up"
to gain muscle
He is trying to bulk up for the season.
casual"in bulk"
in large quantities
We buy paper in bulk to save money.
neutral"the bulk of"
the majority
The bulk of the work is done.
neutral"bulk large"
to seem important
The issue looms large in our plans.
formal"bulk order"
a large purchase
We placed a bulk order for supplies.
businessEasily Confused
both describe large things
heavy is weight; bulky is size
A lead ball is heavy; a giant balloon is bulky.
both mean big
massive is about scale; bulky is about awkwardness
A massive mountain vs a bulky box.
both imply awkwardness
clunky is about design; bulky is about size
A clunky interface vs a bulky couch.
both mean big
large is neutral; bulky is negative
A large room vs a bulky box.
Sentence Patterns
The [noun] is bulky.
The package is bulky.
It is a bulky [noun].
It is a bulky coat.
Too bulky to [verb].
Too bulky to fit.
Because it is bulky...
Because it is bulky, we need help.
Despite being bulky...
Despite being bulky, it is light.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Tips
Memory Palace
Real Situations
Cultural Insight
Grammar Shortcut
Say It Right
Don't Make This Mistake
Did You Know?
Study Smart
Rhyme Time
Context Matters
Memorize It
Mnemonic
BULL-ky: A bull is big and takes up a lot of room!
Visual Association
A person trying to carry a giant, puffy sofa.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe three things in your room that are bulky.
Word Origin
Old Norse
Original meaning: heap or cargo
Cultural Context
None, but can be used to describe people in a way that might be seen as rude.
Commonly used in shipping, moving, and fashion.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
moving house
- bulky items
- heavy lifting
- hard to move
shopping
- too bulky
- fits in the bag
- takes up space
shipping
- bulky cargo
- extra charge
- special handling
fashion
- bulky sweater
- layering clothes
- bulky coat
Conversation Starters
"What is the most bulky thing you own?"
"Do you prefer compact or bulky furniture?"
"Have you ever had to move a bulky item?"
"Why do people buy bulky winter clothes?"
"How would you define a bulky package?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you struggled to move something bulky.
Why do we value compact items over bulky ones?
Write about a bulky item you want to get rid of.
Is it better to have bulky, durable items or compact, fragile ones?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsTest Yourself
The box is too ___ to carry.
Bulky describes something large and hard to carry.
Which word means large and awkward?
Bulky means large and awkward.
Bulky always means the same as heavy.
Bulky refers to volume/size, not just weight.
Word
Meaning
Matching antonyms.
Subject-verb-adjective order.
Score: /5
Summary
Bulky describes something that is physically large and inconvenient to move or store.
- Bulky means large and awkward to handle.
- It focuses on volume, not weight.
- Commonly used for furniture and packages.
- It is an adjective.
Memory Palace
Real Situations
Cultural Insight
Grammar Shortcut
Example
I need a bigger suitcase because my winter coat is very bulky.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More Other words
abate
C1To become less intense, active, or severe, or to reduce the amount or degree of something. It is most commonly used to describe the subsiding of natural phenomena, emotions, or legal nuisances.
abcarndom
C1To intentionally deviate from a fixed sequence or established pattern in favor of a randomized or non-linear approach. It is often used in technical or analytical contexts to describe the process of breaking a structured flow to achieve a more varied result.
abcenthood
C1The state, condition, or period of being absent, particularly in a role where one's presence is expected or required. It often refers to a prolonged or systemic lack of participation in a social, parental, or professional capacity.
abcitless
C1A noun referring to the state of being devoid of essential logical progression or a fundamental missing component within a theoretical framework. It describes a specific type of structural absence that renders a system or argument incomplete.
abcognacy
C1The state of being unaware or lacking knowledge about a specific subject, situation, or fact. It describes a condition of non-recognition or a gap in cognitive awareness, often used in technical or specialized academic contexts.
abdocion
C1Describing a movement, force, or logical process that leads away from a central axis or established standard. It is primarily used in specialized technical contexts to describe muscles pulling a limb away from the body or ideas that diverge from a main thesis.
abdocly
C1Describing something that is tucked away, recessed, or occurring in a hidden manner that is not immediately visible to the observer. It is primarily used in technical or academic contexts to denote structural elements or biological processes that are concealed within a larger system.
aberration
B2A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome. It refers to a temporary change or a deviation from the standard path or rule.
abfacible
C1To systematically strip or remove the external surface or facade of a structure or material for analysis, restoration, or cleaning. It specifically refers to the technical act of uncovering underlying layers while preserving the integrity of the core material.
abfactency
C1Describing a quality or state of being fundamentally disconnected from empirical facts or objective reality. It is typically used to characterize arguments or theories that are logically consistent within themselves but have no basis in actual evidence. This term highlights a sophisticated departure from what is observable in favor of what is purely speculative.
