gravity

gravity — noun

1. The natural force that pulls physical objects toward each other, most noticeably

1.nounA2
Definition

The natural force that pulls physical objects toward each other, most noticeably the force that draws things toward the center of the Earth and makes them fall when dropped.

Example

Asher dropped the ball and watched gravity pull it toward the ground.

Without gravity, water from a glass would simply float away into the air.

conditional: without gravity + would + verb

Common collocations
  • force of gravity
  • pull of gravity
  • center of gravity
  • gravity pulls
  • zero gravity
  • gravity on [planet/Moon]
Synonyms
  • gravitation

    a more technical, scientific term for the same physical phenomenon

  • attraction

    broader term that can refer to magnetic or personal attraction, not just gravitational pull

Grammar Patterns

gravity + verb (pulls, attracts, keeps)

the force of + gravity

without + gravity

the + gravity + on/in/at + [place]

2. The quality of being very serious, important, or worrying — for example, the gra

2.nounB2
Definition

The quality of being very serious, important, or worrying — for example, the gravity of a political crisis, a medical diagnosis, or a legal offence. Can also describe a person's serious and dignified way of behaving or speaking.

Example

The lawyer explained the gravity of the charges to her client in a quiet voice.

gravity + of + [serious noun] (charges)

Only after the accident did Trang begin to understand the full gravity of the situation.

the full + gravity + of + [noun]

Common collocations
  • gravity of the situation
  • gravity of the crime
  • gravity of the charges
  • understand the gravity
  • realize the gravity
  • appreciate the gravity
  • with gravity
Synonyms
  • seriousness

    less formal and more widely used than 'gravity'; appropriate for everyday contexts

  • severity

    focuses on the harshness or intensity of a situation, while 'gravity' emphasizes its weight and importance

  • importance

    broader term that lacks the negative or worrying connotation of 'gravity'

  • dignity

    overlaps with 'gravity' only when describing a person's solemn bearing or manner

Antonyms
  • triviality

    the quality of being unimportant or insignificant

  • lightness

    a lack of seriousness or weight, often used in contrast in figurative writing

Grammar Patterns

the + gravity + of + noun (situation, problem, crime, charge)

understand/appreciate/realize/grasp + the + gravity

with + gravity (manner)

the full + gravity

Usage Note

Often used in formal or journalistic contexts. Unlike the more everyday word 'seriousness', 'gravity' carries a stronger implication of weightiness and potentially negative consequences. It is frequently followed by 'of' plus an abstract noun such as 'situation', 'problem', 'offence', or 'charge'.

Common Mistakes

I understand the gravity of your toothache.
I understand the seriousness of your toothache.
'gravity' feels too weighty for everyday personal discomforts; use for large-scale or formal concerns.

Word family

  • grave
    adjectiveB2
  • gravitate
    verbC1
  • gravitation
    nounC1
  • gravitational
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe something weighty, but each focuses on a different aspect. 'Seriousness' is the closest everyday alternative to 'gravity' — it is less formal and suits personal contexts (the seriousness of a broken promise), whereas 'gravity' belongs in more elevated or public discourse (the gravity of a constitutional crisis). 'Severity' emphasises harshness or intensity; a storm can have severity, but it does not have gravity unless the situation it creates is deeply worrying. 'Importance' is the broadest of the four — it can describe anything from a key scientific discovery to a trivial daily task, while 'gravity' always carries a negative or somber tone. 'Dignity' overlaps with 'gravity' only when the latter refers to a person's solemn bearing: 'He spoke with great dignity' and 'He spoke with great gravity' are close, but 'dignity' suggests composure and self-respect, whereas 'gravity' suggests a heavy, somber seriousness. Use 'gravity' when you need to convey both weight and concern in formal writing or speech.

seriousness ↗severityimportance ↗dignity ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the force of gravity
  • the pull of gravity
  • the center of gravity
  • the gravity of the situation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'gravity' comes from Latin 'gravitas', meaning 'weight' or 'heaviness', which in turn comes from 'gravis', meaning 'heavy'. The figurative sense of 'seriousness, dignity' was already present in Latin, while the modern physics sense emerged in the 17th century after Isaac Newton's theories described gravitation as a universal force. The word entered English through Old French 'gravité'.