gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgra-və-ˈtā-shən 

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

ˌgra-və-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

gravitationally adverb

gravitative

ˈgra-və-ˌtā-tiv 

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

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən 

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 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

gravitationally

-ē

adverb

gravitative

ˈgrav-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən 

: 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

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

gravitationally

-ē 

adverb