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

The data, released Thursday as part of the US Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, underscores the gravity of America’s home-affordability crisis: Not only has buying a home become prohibitively expensive for many Americans, but so too has renting one. —Samantha Delouya, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024

Most stars are bound by gravity to one or more companion stars, and things can get interesting — or violent — if these stars get too close. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Sep. 2024

Black holes form when gravity is so strong that no other force of nature can stop the collapse of matter. —Imre Bartos, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2024

Two major global energy fields are known to exist around Earth – the gravity field, generated by the planet’s mass, and the electromagnetic field, which is produced by churning metals in the core. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 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