gravity

noun, often attributive grav·i·ty \ ˈgra-və-tē \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Examples: gravity in a Sentence

Definition of gravity

plural gravities

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 2a, strong force, weak force

b : acceleration of gravity

c : specific gravity

See gravity defined for English-language learners

See gravity defined for kids

Examples of gravity in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of gravity from the Web

Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus and his La Bomba spring 2018 collection is partly responsible, with its gigantic shoulder-grazing headgear that defied gravity (and practicality) and evoked the luxurious feel of a beachside vacation.

— halie lesavage, Glamour, "How a Larger-Than-Life Sunhat Became Summer's Must-Have Accessory," 11 July 2018
The overall style recalls that of one of Friedman’s contemporaries, the late Guy Clark – Circus of Life is imbued with both gravity and grace.

— Philly.com, "Album reviews: Florence and the Machine, Gorillaz and Kinky Friedman," 5 July 2018
The spacecraft’s mission is to study and record the planet’s gravity and magnetic fields, its atmospheric dynamics and compositions to understand its formation and evolution.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "Jupiter’s Chaotic Clouds Look Like Gorgeous Marbled Paper," 1 July 2018
SpinLaunch would use electricity to accelerate a projectile to pierce through gravity and the atmosphere.

— polina marinova, Fortune, "This Futuristic Startup Raised $40 Million to Fling Heavy Objects Into Space," 15 June 2018
Lava moves toward the sea, following gravity and the path of least resistance.

— kimberly dark, Curbed, "Living on the edge," 6 June 2018
They were built without mortar, relying on gravity and the natural shape of the stones.

— robert weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "Non-profit aims to get girls in the game," 28 May 2018
At the end of it, the heavy seaman was pinned to the corner by gravity and fear.

— joshunda sanders, Longreads, "Who Sank El Faro? An Interview With Rachel Slade," 23 May 2018
Given the gravity and frequency of U of L's NCAA infractions, a change in departmental leadership was probably due.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "University of Louisville's mistakes add up in Tom Jurich settlement," 18 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of gravity

Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis — see ⁴grave

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1505

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

gravity Synonyms

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

GRAVITY Defined for English Language Learners

gravity

noun

Definition of gravity for English Language Learners

: a very serious quality or condition : the condition of being grave or serious
: the natural force that tends to cause physical things to move towards each other : the force that causes things to fall towards the Earth

GRAVITY Defined for Kids

gravity

noun grav·i·ty \ ˈgra-və-tē \

Definition of gravity for Students

plural gravities

1 : a force of attraction that tends to draw particles or bodies together

2 : the attraction of bodies by the force of gravity toward the center of the earth

3 : great seriousness

Word Root of gravity

The Latin word gravis, meaning “heavy” or “serious,” gives us the root grav. Words from the Latin gravis have something to do with heaviness or seriousness. Something grave, or important, such as a situation, requires serious thought and consideration. To aggravate is to make a situation more serious. Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the ground making it feel heavy.