Word

gravity

noun C1

/ˈɡɹævɪti/

Meanings

noun

the natural force that attracts objects toward the Earth or toward each other

noun

the great seriousness or importance of a situation or subject

Definition

Gravity is the natural force that pulls objects toward each other, especially toward the Earth.

Gravity is the force that makes objects fall to the ground and keeps people and things on the Earth’s surface. It also explains why the Moon orbits the Earth and why planets orbit the Sun. In everyday language, it can also mean extreme seriousness and importance.

Examples

In physics class, I finally understood how gravity shapes the motion of satellites.
During the hike, you could feel gravity working against you on the steep descent.
He adjusted the experiment to isolate gravity from other forces like air resistance.
She spoke with gravity about the consequences of ignoring the safety protocol.
They underestimated the gravity of the situation until the full report arrived.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse gravity (the force) with weight (the force on an object caused by gravity) and use them as if they were the same.