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
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
-
Why Roland, with all his gravitas that rings true with King's original work, is relegated to sidekick status is a baffling decision, one that turns out to be fatal.
-
The gravitas of this particular situation was not lost on me.
-
Will stood behind her, looking stoic and adding a certain gravitas to the situation.
-
With the gravitas of his medical training, Dr. Navarro-Valls offered detailed updates on the pope’s health.
-
Throughout her 48-year career, Vaughan often baffled the public — and annoyed critics — by bouncing between jazz and pop and presenting herself with a dignity and gravitas one traditionally associates with classical music.
-
RELATED PHOTOS: 11 Hilarious Times the Saturday Night Live Cast Couldn’t Help But Laugh But Will showed up to put Fallon’s ‘stache to shame, wearing a long, blonde iteration which gave the comedian a serious air of gravitas.
-
The two-act musical adapted from Disney's Lion King has much of the original's buoyancy and joy, as well its gravitas.
-
Someone with an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa or a job in the New York publishing field knows people who might invite her to be on a panel or write a piece for a publication, conferring crucial visibility and gravitas.
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.
Origin and Etymology of gravitas
Learn More about gravitas
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gravitas? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
