gravitate

verb

grav·i·tate ˈgra-və-ˌtāt

gravitated; gravitating

Synonyms of gravitate next

intransitive verb

: to move under the influence of gravitation

: to move toward something

: to be drawn or attracted especially by natural inclination

youngsters … gravitate toward a strong leader—

Rose Friedman

Did you know?

English has several weighty words descended from the Latin gravitas, meaning "weight." The first to arrive on the scene was "gravity," which appeared in the early 16th century. (Originally meaning "dignity or sobriety of bearing," it quickly came to mean "weight" as well.) Next came "gravitation" (used to describe the force of gravity) and "gravitate" - both mid-17th century arrivals. "Gravitate" once meant "to apply weight or pressure," but that use is now obsolete. In the late 17th century, it was recorded in the sense "to move under the effect of gravitation." It then acquired a more general sense of "to move toward something" (as toward a specific location), and finally a metaphorical third sense of "to be attracted" (as toward a person or a vocation).

Example Sentences

The guests gravitated toward the far side of the room. The conversation gravitated to politics. Voters have started gravitating to him as a possible candidate. Many young people now gravitate toward careers in the computer industry.

Recent Examples on the Web Gabriela Hearst has always gravitated toward designs with a sense of purpose. —

Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 May 2023 Those looking to entertain this summer will gravitate toward Pomona, a concrete piece that’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor lifestyles. —

elledecor.com, 13 May 2023 In addition to counselors being made available most any time of day, players gravitated to a familiar spot — the office of pastor and teacher Billy Biegler, who had Times and many others on the team in his class. —

Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2023 This self-assuredness and quiet power is why Morrone ultimately resonated most with the character of Camila while reading the book, even after initially gravitating toward the flashier Daisy. —

Alicia Ramírez, refinery29.com, 29 Mar. 2023 The facilities, which must be affiliated with existing hospitals, have gravitated toward suburban areas where access to emergency care may be inconvenient due to traffic or sprawl, Williamson said. —

Amy Yurkanin | Ayurkanin@al.com, al, 9 Mar. 2023 Hogan’s announcement comes as early indicators show the Republican Party is once again gravitating to Trump, despite influential groups such as the Club for Growth and the Koch network signaling their desire to back a different candidate. —

Erin Cox, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2023 Those GMs gravitated to the radio duo, their history with the restaurant, and their beer. —

Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2023 The pre-college kids gravitating toward math enrichment programs span a wide spectrum. —

Nicole Laporte, Town & Country, 2 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gravitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.