# gravity

/ˈɡɹævəti/ (US) · /ɡɹˈævɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gravity
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. physical force

noun · CEFR B1

the natural force that pulls everything toward the center of the earth.

For teachers: the universal force of attraction acting between all matter. Uncountable in this physical sense.

- Gravity is the force that makes an apple fall from a tree to the ground.
- The satellite was designed to orbit the planet at a specific altitude where the pull of gravity would remain constant.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the Earth's force.

### 2. seriousness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being very serious or important.

For teachers: the quality of being grave, solemn, or extremely serious in manner or consequence.

- The president spoke with great gravity about the dangers of the new war.
- The board of directors failed to grasp the gravity of the situation until the company's stock price began to plummet.

Teaching tip: In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively used in formal contexts to describe the weight of a problem or a person's dignified behavior.

### 3. weight

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the weight of something.

For teachers: the property of having weight; heaviness. Often used in technical contexts like 'specific gravity'.

- The specific gravity of the liquid helped the scientists identify the chemical.
- The instrument measures the specific gravity of the ore to determine its mineral content relative to pure water.

## Examples

- The Earth's gravity keeps the moon in orbit.
- Astronauts experience zero gravity in space, which allows them to float freely inside the station.
- Einstein's general theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity, describing it not merely as a pull but as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.