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

Michael Jordan defying gravity toward the hoop and draining constant clutch shots in the playoffs. —Will Leitch, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023

The saccule and utricle, two chambers in the inner ear, detect the direction of gravity and help the body to balance. —Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023

The same physics underpin most plans for creating what is colloquially referred to as artificial gravity. —Kim Tingley, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023

The cluster’s gravity—and that of invisible dark matter particles—binds about 200 galaxies together. —WIRED, 7 Nov. 2023

But these require very specific configurations of gas that feed material directly down the gravity well, and so super-Eddington feeding is thought to be a temporary aberration. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 6 Nov. 2023

Near the end of her speech, tears started to flow as the gravity of the moment hit her seemingly all at once. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2023

The gravity of the situation took on a new urgency. —Dominique Janee, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023

Minors may struggle to comprehend the gravity of these ramifications, and prudence dictates a cautious approach. —WSJ, 31 Oct. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis — see grave entry 2

First Known Use

1505, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gravity

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

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

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