gravity
11 synonyms and 1 antonym for gravity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, or more generally, that pulls masses toward each other.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use gravity
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
force of gravity
zero gravity
gravity of the situation
Etymology
From French gravité or Latin gravitās ("heaviness, seriousness"), from gravis ("heavy, serious"). A doublet of "gravitas".
Full origin of gravity →Frequently asked questions
What does “gravity” mean?
The word “gravity” means the force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, or more generally, that pulls masses toward each other. In plain terms, the physical force that pulls things downward, or figuratively, the seriousness of a situation.
How do you pronounce “gravity”?
“Gravity” is pronounced GRA-vih-tee (/ˈɡɹævɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “gravity” in a sentence?
Here is “gravity” used in a sentence: “The apple fell from the tree due to gravity.”
What part of speech is “gravity”?
“Gravity” is a noun.
Where does the word “gravity” come from?
The word “gravity” comes from Latin. From French gravité or Latin gravitās ("heaviness, seriousness"), from gravis ("heavy, serious"). A doublet of "gravitas".
Is “gravity” a common word?
“Gravity” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gravity” have?
“Gravity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, or more generally, that pulls masses toward each other.
What is the difference between "gravity" and "gravitation"?
"Gravitation" is the general natural phenomenon by which masses attract one another. "Gravity" often refers specifically to the pull of the Earth, or another body, on nearby objects. In everyday use the two are frequently treated as the same.
What is the difference between "gravity" and "weight"?
Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward a mass such as the Earth, while weight measures how strongly gravity pulls on a particular object. Weight changes with the strength of gravity, but the object's mass stays the same.
What is the difference between "gravity" and "severity"?
Both describe how serious something is. "Gravity" emphasises weighty importance and solemnity, as in the gravity of a decision, while "severity" stresses harshness or intensity, as in the severity of a punishment or an illness.
