(pronounced GRAH-veh-tahs)

A tip to remember the definition of this word: think of gravity. What does the Earth’s gravitational force do” It weighs us down, making us heavy so that we don’t go floating out into space. Similarly, gravitas is a heavy, substantial seriousness, whether in demeanor or in one’s approach to a situation, that weighs one down emotionally.

Example: The entire project team took immediate notice — growing quiet, still and immediately alarmed — when Jesse walked into the conference room, as her gravitas was palpable, not to mention incredibly out of character.