adj C1 Advanced Uncommon

bulky

BUHL-kee

Bulky (adj) means Large, heavy, or awkward in size and difficult to move or store. Example: “The sofa was too bulky to fit through the doorway.”

adj

Large, heavy, or awkward in size and difficult to move or store.

"The sofa was too bulky to fit through the doorway."

"She wore a bulky winter coat over her jumper."

How to use bulky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBig and awkward to handle because of its size or shape.

Common pairings

bulky item bulky package bulky furniture

Word forms

bulkier comparative, bulkiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “bulky” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The sofa was too _____ to fit through the doorway.

Etymology

From bulk + the adjective suffix -y.

Rhymes for bulky

sulky

See all rhymes for bulky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bulky” mean?

The word “bulky” means large, heavy, or awkward in size and difficult to move or store. In plain terms, big and awkward to handle because of its size or shape.

How do you pronounce “bulky”?

“Bulky” is pronounced BUHL-kee (/ˈbʌlki/ in IPA).

How do you use “bulky” in a sentence?

Here is “bulky” used in a sentence: “The sofa was too bulky to fit through the doorway.”

What part of speech is “bulky”?

“Bulky” is an adjective.

Is “bulky” a common word?

“Bulky” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.