gravitas

IPA/ˈɡrævɪtɑːs/
KK[ɡrˈævətəs]IPA/ˈɡrævɪtɑːs/

gravitas — noun

1. a thoughtful, dignified manner that makes others take a person seriously and lis

1.nounC2
Definition

a thoughtful, dignified manner that makes others take a person seriously and listen to what they say.

Example

Senator Antonia spoke with such gravitas that even her opponents fell silent.

collocation: speak with gravitas

Despite his youth, Hugo brought real gravitas to his role as the new headmaster.

pattern: bring gravitas to [a role/position]

Common collocations
  • speak with gravitas
  • lack gravitas
  • bring gravitas to
  • quiet gravitas
  • real gravitas
Synonyms
  • dignity

    broader; gravitas adds an extra sense of weighty, thoughtful seriousness

  • solemnity

    focuses on a grave, ceremonial mood; gravitas is more about a person's manner

  • authority

    emphasizes power to command; gravitas emphasizes how one's manner earns respect

Antonyms
  • frivolity

    lightness and lack of seriousness — the opposite mood

  • levity

    humorous, playful tone unsuitable for serious moments

Grammar Patterns

have gravitas

lack gravitas

bring gravitas to

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable and used in the singular with no article in fixed patterns like 'have/lack/bring gravitas'. Subject is usually a person, a speech, or a public role; rarely used of objects.

Common Mistakes

She has many gravitas.
She has great gravitas.
uncountable, so use 'great / real / quiet' rather than plural or number words.
The colourful party had a lot of gravitas.
The funeral had real gravitas.
gravitas suits serious, solemn contexts, not light or playful ones.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a quality that makes someone or something seem worthy of respect, but they emphasise different sources of that respect. Dignity is the most general — anyone behaving with self-respect and calm has dignity, regardless of status. Authority points to recognised power: a judge or a doctor speaks with authority because of their role. Solemnity describes a heavy, ceremonial mood, often tied to specific occasions like funerals or oaths. Gravitas is narrower and more personal: it is the weighty seriousness someone projects through manner, voice, and bearing that makes others take them seriously without needing formal power. A new manager may have authority on paper but lack gravitas; an old teacher may have no formal authority left but still command a room through gravitas alone.

gravitas ↗dignity ↗solemnity ↗authority ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • a sense of gravitas
  • an air of gravitas

Phrases

  • have gravitas
  • lack gravitas
  • bring gravitas to
  • speak with gravitas

Prepositions

  • with gravitas
  • of gravitas

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Borrowed directly from Latin 'gravitas', meaning 'weight, heaviness, seriousness', from 'gravis' ('heavy, weighty'). In ancient Rome, gravitas was prized as one of the core virtues of a respectable citizen — a calm, dignified bearing that signalled good judgement. English picked the word up in the 19th century and kept the original Latin form unchanged, using it almost exclusively for the seriousness of a person's manner.