1
: excessive or unseemly frivolity
She would tolerate no levity in the classroom.
2
: lack of steadiness : changeableness
the levity … of the brisk fire—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
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Levity Was Once a Scientific Term
Levity originally was thought to be a physical force exactly like gravity but pulling in the opposite direction, like the helium in a balloon. As recently as the 19th century, scientists were still arguing about its existence. Today levity refers only to lightness in manner. To stern believers of some religious faiths, levity is often regarded as almost sinful. But the word, like its synonym frivolity, now has an old-fashioned ring to it and is usually used only half-seriously.
Synonyms
Examples of levity in a Sentence
They managed to find some levity in the situation.
the teachers disapprove of any displays of levity during school assemblies
Recent Examples on the Web
The spontaneous injection of levity was exactly what Caldwell needed.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024
Some levity could help keep people calm during an election that some Americans fear could turn violent.
—Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
If not, read on for a guide to the very-online meme format that’s adding a necessary dose of levity to an increasingly tense election cycle.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
But as the community has embarked on rebuilding and cleanup efforts, people like Gamble have also been coming together to help each other find moments of levity—like by celebrating Halloween.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
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Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024
Some levity could help keep people calm during an election that some Americans fear could turn violent.
—Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
If not, read on for a guide to the very-online meme format that’s adding a necessary dose of levity to an increasingly tense election cycle.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
But as the community has embarked on rebuilding and cleanup efforts, people like Gamble have also been coming together to help each other find moments of levity—like by celebrating Halloween.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for levity
Dictionary Entries Near levity
Cite this Entry
“Levity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levity. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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