as in preferring
to be drawn or attracted
He always gravitated to the fantasy section of the bookstore. She tends to gravitate towards people who share her interest in music.
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Recent Examples of gravitating
Instead, people are gravitating toward plantings that welcome pollinator friends like birds, bees, and butterflies.
—
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
People around the Bay Area are gravitating toward mahjong at brewpubs, bookstores and other public spaces to learn this age-old pastime, which developed in China in the 19th century and spread around the globe in the 20th.
—Grace Hwang Lynch, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The film underscores a broader trend across the lineup at the Berlinale, as well as other festivals, that sees Hollywood actors gravitating toward European directors.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026
Nas just dropped four or five crazy joints and people are still gravitating to it.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Carey has always had a flair for the theatrical, gravitating toward luxurious designs throughout her career.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Knights weren’t on the road very long before players began gravitating towards the back of the bus.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
A number of crypto-native traders are also cooling on the token economy, gravitating toward event betting as prediction markets take off.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Popular podcasters, wellness clinics, and patients are gravitating to the chemical for relief from health conditions that aren’t always well-managed with traditional treatments.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
People around the Bay Area are gravitating toward mahjong at brewpubs, bookstores and other public spaces to learn this age-old pastime, which developed in China in the 19th century and spread around the globe in the 20th.
—Grace Hwang Lynch, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The film underscores a broader trend across the lineup at the Berlinale, as well as other festivals, that sees Hollywood actors gravitating toward European directors.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026
Nas just dropped four or five crazy joints and people are still gravitating to it.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Carey has always had a flair for the theatrical, gravitating toward luxurious designs throughout her career.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
The Knights weren’t on the road very long before players began gravitating towards the back of the bus.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
A number of crypto-native traders are also cooling on the token economy, gravitating toward event betting as prediction markets take off.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Popular podcasters, wellness clinics, and patients are gravitating to the chemical for relief from health conditions that aren’t always well-managed with traditional treatments.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gravitating
Verb
-
The Chinese authorities reportedly turned down the idea, preferring instead to deal with European leaders one by one, and Macron agreed to come without his EU counterpart.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Both Waller and Miran voted against the January decision, preferring instead another quarter-point cut.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your strength lies not in not needing anyone, but in consciously choosing with whom to move forward.—
Marie Bladt,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
If even deciding where to start seems difficult, Bereika suggests choosing the smallest category.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now favoring Republicans, the District 32 GOP primary has drawn nine candidates.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The market is currently favoring two to three reductions in borrowing costs in 2026.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That Sunday afternoon, there were only a handful of gardeners tending their plots.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
To give voice to Congolese citizens, Anderson spoke with figures ranging from rebel leaders to medical personnel, from a regional king to an elderly woman tending subsistence crops in a cemetery.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Also on Tuesday, Indivisible CT is conducting an anti-ICE rally on the state Capitol lawn, taking political aim at a federal agency that has fallen sharply out of public favor after killing two American citizens in Minnesota and roughing up scores of others.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The European Union’s first offshore carbon storage facility, taking emissions from Denmark and injecting them into the seabed below the North Sea, is due to start operating by mid-2026.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So maybe there’s another surprise at quarterback somewhere across the landscape over the next few months, and maybe teams will end up liking the passing prospects in the 2026 draft more than early projections suggest.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Wanting versus liking The first interesting wrinkle that needs to be considered is the fact that dopamine does not directly cause the sensation of pleasure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As if three promotions in as many years weren’t enough for Wrexham, the north Wales club co-owned by Hollywood stars Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds are enjoying another memorable campaign.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Ferreira dispensed with the usual pablum, about not focusing on results, taking it one day at a time, enjoying the journey and what have you.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For all the speculation about selecting a defensive lineman or running back with the ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Chiefs may find themselves in need of a boost in another area — wide receiver.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Amy Steele dedicated her life to her vocation by choosing to embrace difficult situations instead of selecting the simplest path.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gravitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gravitating. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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