English Meaning & Definitions
To move or be drawn toward a person, place, or thing by a natural tendency or strong attraction.
- “At social gatherings, she tends to gravitate toward people who share her interest in art.”
- “Many young professionals gravitate toward major urban centers in search of career opportunities.”
To move under the influence of gravity.
- “In the simulation, cosmic dust particles slowly gravitate toward the massive star.”
- “The planetary bodies gravitate toward one another in accordance with physical laws.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “gravitate”.
Derived from the Modern Latin 'gravitare' (to weigh down), which comes from Latin 'gravitas' (weight, heaviness), from 'gravis' (heavy). It entered the English language in the late 17th century, initially used in physics to describe the movement of physical bodies under the force of gravity, before expanding metaphorically to describe a natural social or psychological attraction.
Think of 'gravity' pulling objects to the ground. When you 'gravitate' toward someone or something, you are being pulled toward them by a natural, invisible force.
Frequently Asked Questions About “gravitate”
1. What is the meaning of “gravitate” in English?
In English, gravitate (verb) is defined as: “To move or be drawn toward a person, place, or thing by a natural tendency or strong attraction.”.
2. How do you use “gravitate” in a sentence?
“At social gatherings, she tends to gravitate toward people who share her interest in art.”
3. What are English synonyms of “gravitate”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “gravitate”?
Derived from the Modern Latin 'gravitare' (to weigh down), which comes from Latin 'gravitas' (weight, heaviness), from 'gravis' (heavy). It entered the English language in the late 17th century, initially used in physics to describe the movement of physical bodies under the force of gravity, before expanding metaphorically to describe a natural social or psychological attraction.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.