weightless

weightless — adjective

1. not being pulled down by gravity, so that a person or object can float freely in

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

not being pulled down by gravity, so that a person or object can float freely in the air or in water

Example

In zero gravity, an astronaut feels completely weightless and can float freely.

collocation: feel weightless / completely weightless

The swimmer felt weightless as she floated on her back in the pool.

Common collocations
  • feel weightless
  • become weightless
  • seem weightless
  • almost weightless
  • completely weightless
  • weightless environment
  • weightless feeling
  • weightless state
  • weightless condition
Synonyms
  • light

    much more common; describes low weight but not zero weight (A1–A2 word)

  • buoyant

    describes floating in liquid or air due to upward force; more technical

  • airy

    describes something that feels light and delicate, like fabric or texture; less extreme than weightless

Antonyms
  • heavy

    direct opposite — having substantial weight

  • weighty

    formal; describes both physical heaviness and figurative importance

Usage Note

Frequently used in both literal contexts (space travel, water) and metaphorical contexts (emotional relief, lightness of movement). The metaphorical extension describes a feeling of freedom or lack of burden rather than actual physical weight.

Common Mistakes

This bag is weightless' (when it is just not heavy).
This bag is very light.
weightless means zero or near-zero effective weight, not simply 'not heavy.'
The scientist studied weightless animals.
The scientist studied animals in a weightless environment.
the adjective describes the condition or feeling, not the animal itself as a permanent quality.

Word family

  • weight
    nounA2
  • weigh
    verbB1
  • weighted
    adjectiveB2
  • weighty
    adjectiveC1
  • weightlessness
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Weightless is the most extreme of this group — it describes having no effective weight, as experienced by astronauts in orbit or fish in water. Light is the everyday word for 'not heavy' (a light bag, a light meal) and never implies zero weight. Buoyant is more technical, describing the ability to float in liquid or air due to density differences (a buoyant balloon, buoyant wood). Airy focuses on texture and feel — something light and delicate, often with space inside or a loose structure (an airy cake, airy curtains). Floating describes the visible state of being suspended in fluid without sinking, and can also be used metaphorically (a floating feeling). Use weightless when emphasising the absence of gravitational pull; use light for casual comparisons; use buoyant in scientific or technical discussions of flotation; use airy for texture descriptions; and use floating when the visual image of suspension matters.

weightless ↗light ↗buoyantairy ↗floating

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • feel weightless
  • become weightless
  • seem weightless
  • float weightlessly

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining the noun 'weight' (from Old English 'wiht', meaning 'amount of heaviness') with the suffix '-less' (from Old English '-leas', meaning 'without'). The word first appeared in English in the 1500s to describe objects that have little or no measurable heaviness, and became more widely used in the 20th century with the rise of space travel and the concept of zero gravity.