gravitational wave

noun

: a disturbance in space-time in the form of a wave that propagates the gravitational field

Gravitational waves are a natural offshoot of the rubber-sheet construction of general relativity. Just as a massive object sitting on the fabric of spacetime creates a dimple, so moving or changing objects, under certain conditions, create wrinkles in the fabric. Those wrinkles, tiny distortions in spacetime, zoom away at the speed of light. Because these gravitational waves carry energy, anything emitting them will lose a tiny bit of its speed.

—Science

Examples of gravitational wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Specifically, the gravitational wave signal indicated that one of the neutron stars involved in the merger was less massive than the sun. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025

Furthermore, the gravitational waves suggested at least one of the two neutron stars was less massive than the sun. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Dec. 2025

That shift led some astronomers to dismiss the event as an ordinary stellar explosion unrelated to the gravitational waves. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025

Instead, the emission of light comes after the emission of gravitational waves. —Big Think, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gravitational wave

• aftershave
• architrave
• autoclave
• microwave
• misbehave
• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave