gravitas

[ grav-i-tahs, ‑-tas ]

noun

1. seriousness or sobriety, as of conduct or speech.

gravitas

/ ˈɡrævɪˌtæs /

noun

1. seriousness, solemnity, or importance

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitas¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Latin gravitās; gravity

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitas¹

C20: from Latin gravitās weight, from gravis heavy

Example Sentences

It was better, I’m sure, than I concluded that day, but the work relied too heavily, I recall thinking, on borrowed gravitas.

From Washington Post

His gravitas would presumably bore viewers to the truth, as he understood it.

From Washington Post

What is so appealing about a filter like this is that it allows art lovers to get up close and personal with the artwork, while preserving the gravitas of the work itself.

From Digiday

Kline picked a British-sounding name to add a dash of gravitas.

From ProPublica

Nigeria has a long history of not treating allegations of sexual and gender-based violence with the gravitas they merit.

From Quartz

Larson, as usual, instills gravitas and agency in an otherwise underwritten character.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody believes in the dignity and gravitas of American government.

From The Daily Beast

Violation of gravitas is being taken ‘extremely seriously’ by army top brass, source says.

From The Daily Beast

All the moralizing and gravitas that accompanies a star player being arrested should be viewed as a form of Kabuki theater.

From The Daily Beast

Later in a statement, Moonves praised Letterman for “wit, gravitas, and brilliance unique in the history of our medium.”

From The Daily Beast

The Roman's word in art, as in life, was still gravitas, and he contrived to infuse a shade of contempt into the word levis.

From Project Gutenberg

Erat enim in illo viro comitate condita gravitas, nec senectus mores mutaverat.

From Project Gutenberg

Si vero inest in oratione mixta modestia gravitas, nihil admirabilius fieri potest, eoque magis, si ea sunt in adulescente.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dignity
• gravity
• sobriety