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

Stellar black holes are remnants of massive stars that collapsed under their own gravity, typically forming black holes about 10 times the mass of our Sun. —George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024

But if the physical nature of this galaxy has changed, the physics of it, the forces that drive it—the urgency, the urges—are constants, no less than gravity and light. —Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 Apr. 2024

Courtesy of Merrill Sherman/Quanta Magazine How could two photons know anything about gravity? —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2024

There are four fundamental forces in the universe: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force (which holds together protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei) and the weak force (which plays a role in nuclear decay). —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

The quantum mechanical description is the surface of the room with no gravity on the surface. —Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

Special relativity holds that the clocks on satellites, which experience weaker gravity, seem to run slower than clocks under the stronger force of gravity on Earth. —Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024

General relativity holds that gravity is not really an invisible force of mutual attraction, but a distortion. —Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024

The gravity of the moment is palpable in the scene, which is reminiscent of the season 2 moment in Felicity when Felicity (Keri Russell) cut her hair after her break-up with Ben (Scott Speedman). —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

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

• 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