ethereality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ethereality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a delicate, light, or otherworldly quality, often in a poetic or artistic context. Example: "The ethereality of the morning mist made the landscape appear almost magical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I had always made a point of going to Trisha Brown's seasons in New York back when I danced, and was a fan of Lucas and Madden in particular; onstage, Madden, an elder statesman in the troupe, displayed a generous, nurturing quality and a remarkable clarity, and Lucas's ethereality always drew my eye.

The New Yorker

He had an ethereality that was oddly charismatic — "like an angel in the sky" is the way one of his classmates remembered him.

The New Yorker

This is most effective in "secret klubs," where Mr. Korine's actors are all but obscured by the painted overgrowth, but counter the tactility with a wonderful ethereality.

The New York Times - Arts

It had moments of ethereality and of earth-moving bass, of hip-hop verses and quasi-classical stateliness, of dreaminess and belligerence and humor — an alternative to the year's four-on-the-floor dance-music formulas.

The New York Times - Arts

But the funeral itself seems cleansed and sanitized into a clinical, nearly forensic, ethereality.

The New York Times - Magazine

The ensemble took roughly a half-hour to settle into its rapport, and during that time the fulcrum was Mr. Kikuchi, a pianist of probing ethereality who at 73 is decades older than the others.

The New York Times - Arts

Among the band's four new songs, two — "Brennisteinn" and "Kveikur," which it had played on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" several nights before — were the biggest exception to the ethereality: They were bigger and darker and clumpier, with Orri Dyrason's decisive drumming and some other clattering percussion, and they made echoes bounce off the back wall.

The New York Times - Arts

But in speaking as they did, the ethereality of their work could be grounded by a feeling that they were creators, doers; men who moved things, made things happen.

The New York Times

The superb, all-woman String Quartet of Light and Sound joined in on several numbers, adding a layer of ethereality in an acoustically perfect setting.

The New York Times - Arts

Salem, a three-member group that's an unlikely combination of ethereality and low-end impact, played a set as murky and imposing as the smoke-machine haze that enveloped it.

The New York Times - Arts

The jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel prizes ethereality and control in his music, but that doesn't mean he shies away from the unruly or the unknown.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene or artwork, use "ethereality" to evoke a sense of lightness, delicacy, and spirituality. For example: "The painting captured the ethereality of the landscape at dawn."

Common error

Avoid using "ethereality" to describe concrete, tangible objects or situations. It's best suited for abstract concepts, atmospheres, or artistic impressions, and should not replace words like 'transparency' or 'lightness' when literal clarity is needed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ethereality" is as a noun. It refers to the quality or state of being ethereal, often used to describe something delicate, light, or otherworldly, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Arts

32%

Books

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Ethereality" functions as a noun, describing the quality of being ethereal, often associated with lightness and otherworldliness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It sees frequent use in News & Media and Arts contexts, and while generally neutral in register, it leans towards formality. When using "ethereality", aim for abstract descriptions of atmospheres or artistic elements, keeping in mind that synonyms like "etherealness", "delicacy", and "otherworldliness" offer alternative shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

etherealness

Direct synonym, interchangeable in most contexts.

delicacy

Focuses on the fine and fragile aspects.

airiness

Emphasizes lightness and a lack of substance.

subtlety

Highlights the understated and refined nature.

intangibility

Stresses the inability to be touched or grasped.

otherworldliness

Conveys a sense of being from another realm.

celestial quality

Connects to the heavens or the sky.

transcendence

Suggests rising above the ordinary.

rarefied quality

Implies purity and refinement.

insubstantiality

Underscores the lack of material existence.

FAQs

How to use "ethereality" in a sentence?

You can use "ethereality" to describe something delicate, light, or otherworldly. For example, "The music possessed a certain ethereality that transported the listener to another realm."

What can I say instead of "ethereality"?

You can use alternatives like "etherealness", "delicacy", or "otherworldliness" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ethereality" or "etherealness"?

Both "ethereality" and "etherealness" are correct and can be used interchangeably in most contexts. Ethereality might be preferred for a slightly more formal or abstract tone.

What's the difference between "ethereality" and "transparency"?

"Ethereality" describes a quality of lightness and otherworldliness, while "transparency" refers to the ability to see through something. They are not interchangeable.