gravitas

noun grav·i·tas \ ˈgra-və-ˌtäs , -ˌtas \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: gravitas in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of gravitas

: high seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject)

had the gravitas of a deep thinker

See gravitas defined for English-language learners

Examples of gravitas in a Sentence

The new leader has an air of gravitas that commands respect.
a comic actress who lacks the gravitas for dramatic roles
The new leader has a certain gravitas.

Recent Examples of gravitas from the Web

The glory in officiating comes from letting the gravitas and beauty of the occasion do the talking.

— martin mulkeen, GQ, "How to Officiate Your Friend's Wedding," 13 June 2018
Priyanka knows how to have fun, but there’s also a gravitas to her.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Priyanka Chopra Can't Stop Leaving Flirty Comments on Nick Jonas' Instagram and We Are Here For It," 7 June 2018
These early shows had the gravitas of gospel performance: Kids left with raspy voices, smiling and less afraid to outwardly purge internal tumult.

— ryan burleson, BostonGlobe.com, "It’s more than a feeling for Dashboard Confessional," 27 Mar. 2018
Such awards have the gravitas to define what—and who—makes architecture great.

— diana budds, Curbed, "How architecture can rebuild itself post #MeToo," 21 May 2018
This commitment to mapping the arc of Ocean’s work—not just lyrically, but stylistically—lends Dissect a critical gravitas.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "Is It Futile to 'Dissect' Frank Ocean's Work?," 17 May 2018
But whether a head-swiveling accessory was in the mix or not, many, including Alicia Vikander and Kendall Jenner, also served up gravitas in the back, harnessing the power of a sleek plait or voluminous ponytail.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "From Gilded Crowns to Gothic Lips, These Met Gala Beauty Trends Dominated the Red Carpet," 8 May 2018
The Rays have trended back toward mediocrity in recent seasons, but their failings don’t carry the gravitas to put them high on this list.

— childs walker, baltimoresun.com, "Where do the Orioles rank among MLB's tortured franchises?," 22 Mar. 2018
Musicians need a certain gravitas and focus in order to write.

— nancy mattia, PEOPLE.com, "In Her Own Words: Gwyneth Paltrow's Quotes on Love & Marriage," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gravitas.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

This word comes to us straight from Latin. Among the Romans, gravitas was thought to be essential to the character and functions of any adult (male) in authority. Even the head of a household or a low-level official would strive for this important quality. We use gravitas today to identify the same solemn dignity in men and women, but it seems to come easier in those who are over 60, slow-moving--and a bit overweight.