gravity
/ˈɡrævəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrævəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgra-və-tē/ (ame, mw)
gravity — noun
1. The natural force that pulls physical objects toward each other, most noticeably
The natural force that pulls physical objects toward each other, most noticeably the force that draws things toward the center of the Earth and makes them fall when dropped.
Asher dropped the ball and watched gravity pull it toward the ground.
Without gravity, water from a glass would simply float away into the air.
conditional: without gravity + would + verb
The gravity on the Moon is only about one-sixth as strong as Earth's.
Pedro learned about gravity when his teacher dropped a feather and a stone together.
- gravitation
a more technical, scientific term for the same physical phenomenon
- attraction
broader term that can refer to magnetic or personal attraction, not just gravitational pull
文法句型
gravity + verb (pulls, attracts, keeps)
the force of + gravity
without + gravity
the + gravity + on/in/at + [place]
2. The quality of being very serious, important, or worrying — for example, the gra
The quality of being very serious, important, or worrying — for example, the gravity of a political crisis, a medical diagnosis, or a legal offence. Can also describe a person's serious and dignified way of behaving or speaking.
The lawyer explained the gravity of the charges to her client in a quiet voice.
gravity + of + [serious noun] (charges)
Only after the accident did Trang begin to understand the full gravity of the situation.
the full + gravity + of + [noun]
Shirin spoke with unusual gravity when she told her parents about the career change.
The gravity of the disease became clear once the test results arrived at the hospital.
- seriousness
less formal and more widely used than 'gravity'; appropriate for everyday contexts
- severity
focuses on the harshness or intensity of a situation, while 'gravity' emphasizes its weight and importance
- importance
broader term that lacks the negative or worrying connotation of 'gravity'
- dignity
overlaps with 'gravity' only when describing a person's solemn bearing or manner
- triviality
the quality of being unimportant or insignificant
- lightness
a lack of seriousness or weight, often used in contrast in figurative writing
文法句型
the + gravity + of + noun (situation, problem, crime, charge)
understand/appreciate/realize/grasp + the + gravity
with + gravity (manner)
the full + gravity
用法筆記
Often used in formal or journalistic contexts. Unlike the more everyday word 'seriousness', 'gravity' carries a stronger implication of weightiness and potentially negative consequences. It is frequently followed by 'of' plus an abstract noun such as 'situation', 'problem', 'offence', or 'charge'.