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 1a(2)

2

: the action or process of gravitating

gravitational

ˌgra-və-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

gravitationally adverb

gravitative

ˈgra-və-ˌtā-tiv 

adjective

Examples of gravitation in a Sentence

the gravitation of young people to computer careers

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is the gravitational constant, G, multiplied by the product of the two masses divided by the square of the distance between them. —Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026

And inside this clump of matter, gravitation pulls things inwards, but the heat of the moving particles provides an outward pressure (which is a force over an area), gas pressure, that works to counteract the effects of gravitation. —Big Think, 24 Apr. 2026

All these centuries later, there's a collective gravitation towards this relaxed, intentionally imperfect aesthetic, according to Michaels' trend report. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Apr. 2026

In addition to the sun's intense heat, it was also likely subjected to tremendous solar gravitation and tidal forces. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin gravitātiōn-, gravitātiō, from gravitāre "to move downward by its own weight, gravitate" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gravitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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