gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgra-və-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce gravitation (audio)
1
: a force manifested by acceleration toward each other of two free material particles or bodies or of radiant-energy quanta : gravity sense 3a(2)
2
: the action or process of gravitating
gravitational adjective
gravitationally adverb
gravitative adjective

Example Sentences

the gravitation of young people to computer careers
Recent Examples on the Web The situation exposed the riskiness of Demna’s gravitation toward the most volatile parts of pop culture. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 Instead it was discovered that light does not travel in absolutely straight lines, but bends slightly due to the Earth's gravitation. Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2011 Legend has it that Isaac Newton first conceived of the concept of universal gravitation after an apple fell on his head, though the infamous piece of fruit may have actually just landed on the ground nearby. Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2022 The big idea of the Big Bang came about as scientists began to investigate the mathematical properties of Einstein’s General Relativity: the theory of gravity that was put forth in 1915 to supersede Newton’s law of universal gravitation. Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 6 May 2021 Clearly the effect was from gravitation (the tides) not illumination (full moons/new moons). Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2021 Einstein expanded on relativity in 1916 with his theory of gravitation: general relativity. Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022 The cluster’s enormous gravitation field acts as a lens, warping and magnifying the light from galaxies behind it that would otherwise be too faint and faraway to see. New York Times, 11 July 2022 Members of Generation Z are known to be rebels, though the gravitation toward wired headphones goes beyond that. Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gravitation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gravitation was circa 1645

Dictionary Entries Near gravitation

Cite this Entry

“Gravitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravitation. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

gravitation

noun
grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce gravitation (audio)
1
: a force of attraction that tends to draw particles or bodies together : gravity sense 3b
2
: the action or process of gravitating
gravitational
-shnəl How to pronounce gravitation (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
gravitationally
adverb
gravitative adjective

Medical Definition

gravitation

noun
grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce gravitation (audio)
: a force manifested by acceleration toward each other of two free material particles or bodies or of radiant-energy quanta as if they were particles (as in the bending of rays of starlight passing close to the sun) : an attraction between two bodies that is proportional to the product of their masses, inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, and independent of their chemical nature or physical state and of intervening matter
gravitational adjective
gravitationally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on gravitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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