gravity

noun

grav·​i·​ty ˈgra-və-tē 

plural gravities

often attributive

1

a

: dignity or sobriety of bearing

a person of gravity and learning

b

: importance, significance

especially : seriousness

the gravity of the offense

c

: a serious situation or problem

2

: weight

3

a(1)

: the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface

(2)

: a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions which occur because of mass between particles, between aggregations of matter (such as stars and planets), and between particles (such as photons) and aggregations of matter, that is 10^-39 times the strength of the strong force, and that extends over infinite distances but is dominant over macroscopic distances especially between aggregations of matter

called also gravitation, gravitational force

compare electromagnetism sense 2a, strong force, weak force

b

: acceleration of gravity

c

: specific gravity

Synonyms

• earnest
• earnestness
• graveness
• intentness
• serious-mindedness
• seriousness
• soberness
• sobriety
• solemnity
• solemnness
• staidness

Examples of gravity in a Sentence

the hospital waiting room was filled with the kind of gravity that inevitably accompanies worry

Recent Examples on the Web

Eleni’s starting to realize the gravity of her situation when her sleazy lawyer Leslie Walker (Ken Garito) arrives to bluster about jurisdiction and procedural missteps. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Albert Einstein first suggested it as part of his theory of gravity, general relativity. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Occasionally, interactions with the gravity of the planets can cause an asteroid to be ejected from this reservoir, zooming into the inner solar system and in the vicinity of Earth. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Vulnerability caught on video can also offer a powerful glimpse into the gravity of collective tragedy. —Maytal Eyal, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French gravité "heaviness, weight, dignity, seriousness," borrowed from Latin gravitāt-, gravitās "heaviness, weight, oppressiveness, severity, dignity, seriousness," from gravis "heavy, weighty, oppressive, serious" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at grave entry 2

First Known Use

1505, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gravity

• acceleration of gravity
• center of gravity
• gravity wave
• specific gravity
• zero gravity

Kids Definition

gravity

noun

grav·​i·​ty ˈgrav-ət-ē 

plural gravities

1

a

: the quality or state of being dignified and proper

b

: the quality or state of being important or serious

2

: weight

3

a

: the gravitational attraction of the mass of a heavenly body (as the earth) for bodies at or near its surface

b

: a force of attraction between particles or bodies that occurs because of their mass, is stronger as mass is increased, and is weaker as the distance between the objects is increased

c

: acceleration of gravity

Etymology

from early French gravité or Latin gravitas, both meaning "the quality or state of being serious or dignified, the quality of being weighty," from Latin gravis "heavy, serious" — related to aggravate, grave entry 3, grieve

Medical Definition

gravity

noun

grav·​i·​ty ˈgrav-ət-ē 

plural gravities

1

: weight sense 1

—used chiefly in the phrase center of gravity

2

a

: the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface

broadly : gravitation

b

: acceleration of gravity

c

: specific gravity

gravity adjective