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

The family talent stretches to daughter Romany Gilmour, whose youthful, pure voice and persona has a lovely gravitas, as exemplified on the new song “Between Two Points.”

From Los Angeles Times

Stanley Kubrick and the gravitas of that movie was intense for me to be watching as a 12-year-old.

From Salon

"Berger’s film is adapted, quite faithfully, from Robert Harris’s 2016 novel," noted Vulture's Bilge Ebiri, "and it combines the pulp velocity of a great airport read with the gravitas of high drama."

From BBC

There’s a gravitas to their relationship that makes the heartbreak of their eventual separation feel earned.

From Los Angeles Times

“Roy has a kind of gravitas. He feels like he belongs in that chair,” said Black, praising Wood’s ease as a comedian.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dignity
• gravity
• sobriety