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

However, their inevitable in-spiral into each other is releasing constantly weak gravitational waves. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Other things astrophysicists might look for in trying to find a wormhole include gravitational waves or radiation like those associated with black holes. —Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025

These gravitational waves traveled for over a billion years before reaching Earth. —Lieke Van Son, Scientific American, 24 July 2025

Later this year, the center will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first gravitational wave detection with a public seminar. —Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 24 July 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