gravity
noun/ˈɡɹævɪti/ · [ˈɡɹævɪtʰɪi̯]
Etymology Borrowed from French gravité (“seriousness, solemnity; severity; (physics) gravity”), or from its etymon Latin gravitās (“heaviness, weight; seriousness; severity”), equivalent to grave (“serious”) + -ity (suffix forming nouns, especially abstract nouns). Gravitās is derived from gravis (“heavy; grave, serious”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷreh₂- (“heavy”)) + -tās (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns indicating states of being). The English word was first used figuratively, and gained the senses relating to physical qualities in the 17th century. Doublet of gravitas.
9 senses
- 1Of an activity such as a ceremony, a person's conduct…
- 2Of an activity, situation, words, etc.: the quality of…
- 3Authority, influence, weight; also, used as a title for…
- 4The lowness in pitch of a note, a sound, etc.
- 5Synonym of gravitation (“the fundamental force of…
- 6Synonym of g-force (“the acceleration of a body relative…
- 7Dated except in centre of gravity: specific gravity or…
- 8The tendency to have weight and thus move downwards…
- 9The quality of being unable or unwilling to move…
› Senses relating to seriousness.
1
Of an activity such as a ceremony, a person's conduct, etc.: the quality of being deeply serious and solemn, especially in a dignified manner; seriousness, solemnity; (countable, archaic or obsolete) a serious or solemn thing, such as a matter, a comment, etc.
- Page. Yonder is a moſt reuerend Gentleman; vvho (be-like) hauing receiued vvrong by ſome perſon, is at moſt odds vvith his ovvne grauity and patience, that euer you ſavv. / [Robert] Shal[low]. I haue liued foure-ſcore yeeres, and vpvvard: I neuer heard a man of his place, grauity, and learning, ſo vvide of his ovvne reſpect.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 48, column 2:
- [Y]ou ſhould ſee all thoſe grand cenſors, that novv ſtile them [plays] ſuch vanities, flock to them for the maine grace of their grauities: […]c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Neuer Writer, to an Euer Reader. Newes.”, in The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, signature ¶2, recto:
4 more examples
- Gravity is the ballaſt of the ſoul, vvhich keeps the mind ſteddy. It is either true, or counterfeit.1642, Thomas Fuller, “Of Gravity”, in The Holy State, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel for John Williams, […], →OCLC, book III, paragraph 1, page 209:
- I went to compliment the Dutchesse of Grafton [Isabella FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton], now laying-in of her first child, a sonn [Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton], which she call'd for, that I might see it. […] She discours'd with me of many particulars, with greate prudence and gravity beyond her yeares.1683 December 5 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 26 November 1683]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 565:
- Gravity often paſſes for VViſdom, VVit for Ability; […]a. 1700 (date written), William Temple, “Of Popular Discontents”, in Miscellanea. The Third Part. […], London: […] Jonathan Swift, […] Benjamin Tooke, […], published 1701, →OCLC, section I, page 26:
- [T]he art, order, and gravity of thoſe Proceedings [of the Star Chamber] (vvhere ſhort, ſevere, conſtant rules vvere ſet, and ſmartly purſued, and the party felt only the vveight of the Judgement, not the paſſion of his Judges) made them leſs taken notice of, and ſo leſs grievous to the Publick, though as intolerable to the Perſon: […]1702, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, book I, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, page 56:
2
Of an activity, situation, words, etc.: the quality of having important or serious consequences; importance, seriousness.
- I hope you appreciate the gravity of the situation.
- The iudges parte is to ſée that the puniſhemente paſſe not the grauitie of the offence.1533 (date written), Thomas More, “The Debellacyon of Salem and Bizance […]. Chapter XIIII.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, 1st part, page 964, column 2:
4 more examples
- [B]y that lavve [among the Græcians] it vvas agreed, that he vvhich being ouercome vvith drinke did then ſtrike anye man, ſhoulde ſuffer puniſhment double as much as if hee had done the ſame being ſober. No man coulde euer haue thought this reaſonable that had intended thereby onely to puniſh the iniury committed, according to the grauitie of the fact.[1594], Richard Hooker, “The Benefit of Keeping that Law which Reason Teacheth”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, book I, section 10, page 74:
- [W]e look'd for the diſcharge of his Office, the payment of his dutie to the Kingdom, and are payd Court payment vvith empty ſentences, that have the ſound of gravity, but the ſignificance of nothing pertinent.1649, J[ohn] Milton, “Upon His Repulse at Hull, and the Fate of the Hothams”, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 73:
- The vviſe vvill determine from the gravity of the caſe; the irritable from ſenſibility to oppreſſion; the high-minded from diſdain and indignation at abuſive povver in unvvorthy hands; the brave and bold from the love of honourable danger in a generous cauſe: […]1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, pages 43–44:
- [T]he gravity of the situation which confronts the world today necessitates my appearance before a joint session of the Congress. The foreign policy and the national security of this country are involved. […] The very existence of the Greek state is today threatened by the terrorist activities of several thousand armed men, led by Communists, who defy the Government's authority at a number of points, particularly along the northern boundaries.1947 March 12, Harry S. Truman, “Address of the President of the United States—Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East [H. Doc. No. 171]”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 80th Congress, First Session (joint session of the United States Senate and House of Representatives), volume 93, part 2, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1980, columns 1–2:
3
Obsolete Authority, influence, weight; also, used as a title for a person with authority or influence.
- [T]ho' Guicciardin [Francesco Guicciardini] miſtakes in thoſe Points, vve may ſafely venture to depend on all the reſt of the Circumſtances as true Hiſtory: VVhy elſe ſhould they be mentioned by a Hiſtoriographer of ſuch Gravity?1728, J[oseph] Morgan, “Heyradîn Basha, or Barba-rossa II. Second Turkish Sovereign, and First Vice-roy of Algiers, for the Grand Signor”, in A Complete History of Algiers. […], London: […] J. Bettenham; for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, […], published 1731, →OCLC, page 290:
- The principal officers of the empire vvere ſaluted, even by the ſovereign himſelf, vvith the deceitful titles of your Sincerity, your Gravity, your Excellency, your Eminence, your ſublime and vvonderful Magnitude, your illuſtrious and magnificent Highneſs.1781, Edward Gibbon, “Foundation of Constantinople—Political System of Constantine, and His Successors—Military Discipline—The Palace—The Finances”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 24:
› Senses relating to physical qualities.
4
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music The lowness in pitch of a note, a sound, etc.
5
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Synonym of gravitation (“the fundamental force of attraction which exists between all matter in the universe that tends to draw bodies towards each other, due to matter causing the curvature of spacetime”); also, a physical law attempting to account for the phenomena of this force.
- Aristotelian gravity Newtonian gravity
- [T]his Gravity, the great Baſis of all Mechaniſm, is not it ſelf Mechanical; but the immediate Fiat and Finger of God, […] [N]o Compound Body in the viſible vvorld can ſubſiſt and continue vvithout Gravity, and Gravity do immediately flovv from a Divine Povver and Energy; […]1692 May 12, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism from the Structure and Origin of Humane Bodies. Part I. […], London: […] Tho[mas] Parkhurst […], and H[enry] Mortlock […], published 1692, →OCLC, page 6:
4 more examples
- [I]f I vvere to explain the motion of a body falling to the ground, I vvould ſay it vvas cauſed by gravity, and I vvould endeavour to ſhevv after vvhat manner this povver operated, vvithout attempting to ſhevv vvhy it operated in this manner; […]1756 (date written), [Edmund Burke], “Sect. I. Of the Efficient Cause of the Sublime and Beautiful.”, in A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1757, →OCLC, part IV, page 119:
- Do you know that gravity is pulling at you, tugging at you, trying to drag you down, from the moment you awake in the morning till you tumble into bed at night?1950 January, Howard Hayes, “You and Gravity”, in The Atlantic Monthly, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2025:
- Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.2012 January, Michael Riordan, “Tackling Infinity”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, New Haven, Conn.: Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012, page 86:
- It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in a basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […]2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air by Richard Holmes [book review]”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, volume 188, number 26, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2025, page 36:
7
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Dated Dated except in centre of gravity: specific gravity or relative density (“a dimensionless measure which is the ratio of the mass of a substance to that of some reference substance (chiefly an equal volume of water at 4°C)”); also, heaviness, weight.
- Thus one generation is alvvays the ſcorn and vvonder of the other; and the notions of the old and young are like liquors of different gravity and texture, vvhich can never unite.1750 November 23 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 69. Monday, November 13. 1750.”, in The Rambler, volume III, Edinburgh: … Sands, Murray, and Cochran]; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1750, →OCLC, page 132:
8
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Obsolete The tendency to have weight and thus move downwards, formerly believed to be an inherent quality of some objects.
- […] Similitude of Subſtance vvill cauſe Attraction, vvhere the Body is vvholly freed from the Motion of Grauitie: For if that vvere taken avvay, Lead vvould dravv Lead, and Gold vvould dravv Gold, and Iron vvould dravv Iron, vvithout the helpe of the Load-Stone. But this ſame Motion of VVeight or Grauitie, […] doth kill the other Motion, except it ſelfe be killed by a violent Motion; […]1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “VIII. Century. [Experiments Solitary, Touching Attraction by Similitude of Substance.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 704, page 182:
- [I]t is not impoſſible (though hardly feiſible) by a ſingle Loadſtone to ſuſpend an iron in the ayre, the iron being artificially placed, and at a diſtance guided tovvards the ſtone, untill it find the nevvtrall point vvherein its gravity juſt equalls the magneticall quality, the on exactly extolling as much as the other depreſſeth; […]1646, Thomas Browne, “Concerning the Loadstone, therein of Sundry Common Opinions, and Received Relations, Naturall, Historicall, Medicall, Magicall”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 72:
3 more examples
- Heaven hath neither gravity nor levity; this is manifeſt from its motion vvhich is circular; not from the center vvhich is proper to light things; nor to the center, as is proper to heavy, but about the center.1656, Tho[mas] Stanley, “[The Doctrine of Aristotle.] Chap[ter] VI. Of Heaven.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Second Volume, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring: […], →OCLC, page 56:
- [The Earth] muſt perſevere in Motion, unleſs obſtructed by a Miracle. Neither can Gravity, vvhich makes great bodies hard of Remove, be any hindrance to the Earths motion: ſince even the Peripatetick Maxime, Nihil gravitat in ſuo loco [nothing weighs in its place], vvill exempt it from this indiſposing quality; vvhich is nothing but the tendency of its parts, vvhich are raviſh't from it, to their deſired Centre.1661, Joseph Glanvill, chapter XVII, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, pages 85–86:
- […] Gravity is an Intrinſecal Quality by vvhich a Body ſo qualified deſcendeth perpendicularly tovvards the Superfices of the Earth.1678, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Gravity and Gravitation”, in Decameron Physiologicum: Or, Ten Dialogues of Natural Philosophy. […], London: […] J[ames] C[ottrel] for W[illiam] Crook[e] […], →OCLC, page 84:
- [T]he learned authors of this vvorld ſay that about thirty yeares, man is in his full ſtate, and from that time, hee declineth to an age of more grauity and decay: […]1610, Saint Augustine, “Whether All of the Resurrection shalbe of the Stature of Christ”, in J[ohn] H[ealey], transl., St. Augustine, of the Citie of God: […], [London]: […] George Eld, →OCLC, book XXII, page 897:
- Derived terms
64 terms
acceleration of gravity, aerogravity, anti-gravity, anti-gravity lean, API gravity, bigravity, center of gravity, contragravity, countergravity, electrogravity, gravital, gravitation, gravitic, gravitics, gravitied, graviton, gravity assist, gravity bomb, gravity bong, gravity boots, gravity brightened, gravity-brightening, gravity brightening, gravity cell, gravity dam, gravity-darkened, gravity-darkening, gravity darkening, gravity drag, gravity drop, gravity gun, gravity hill, gravity knife, gravityless, gravity meter, gravity racer, gravity slingshot, gravity sport, gravity's pull, gravity suit, gravity tank, gravity train, gravity turn, gravity wave, gravity well, gravity wind, hypergravity, hypogravity, infragravity, isogravity, loop quantum gravity, microgravity, milligravity, nongravity, normogravity, paragravity, pseudogravity, quantum gravity, specific gravity bottle, standard gravity, supergravity, surface gravity, ungravity, zero gravity