gravitation

1 of 2

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

gravitational

2 of 2

adjective

grav·​i·​ta·​tion·​al

-shnəl

: of, relating to, or caused by gravitation

sufficient energy to escape from the sun's gravitational field

—J. G. Davies

gravitationally

-ᵊl|ē, 

-əl|ē, 

|i

adverb

Examples of gravitation in a Sentence

Noun

the gravitation of young people to computer careers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The vacuum of space, devoid of any material entity, is enough to account for the propagation of objects and gravitation and electromagnetic signals all on its own. — Big Think, 7 May 2026

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

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

Noun

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

Noun

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