gravitate
[grav-i-teyt]
- to move or tend to move under the influence of gravitational force.
- to tend toward the lowest level; sink; fall.
- to have a natural tendency or be strongly attracted (usually followed by to or toward): Musicians gravitate toward one another.
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Origin of gravitate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for gravitate
Contemporary Examples
I kind of felt at that time—because I gravitate towards these types of movies—that I have some similarities with Woody Allen.
Which makes me gravitate towards a more parsimonious explanation: all economists are, definitionally, very good at college.
Whether people are on the move in their own countries or across borders, they gravitate toward big cities.
Most of their supporters might gravitate to Gingrich, giving him a fighting chance in Florida and beyond.
And gravitate toward noble entities you spy behind froggy appearances.
Historical Examples
Who that has poached a pile does not gravitate there, as the needle to the pole?
The manifestation of Him must "gravitate inwards" on the soul.
A Dish Of OrtsGeorge MacDonald
The soap is then in a condition to allow the impurities to gravitate.
The Handbook of Soap ManufactureW. H. Simmons
If it was a body of this kind, would it not gravitate like all other matter?
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 5 (of 10)Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
They gravitate together, and often marry each other, and are very happy.
Mystery at GenevaRose Macaulay
gravitate
- physics to move under the influence of gravity
- (usually foll by to or towards) to be influenced or drawn, as by strong impulses
- to sink or settle
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for gravitate
v.
1640s, "exert weight, move downward," from Modern Latin gravitatus, past participle of gravitare "gravitate," from Latin gravitas "heaviness, weight" (see gravity). Meaning "To be affected by gravity" is from 1690s. Figurative use from 1670s. Related: Gravitated; gravitating. The classical Latin verb was gravare "to make heavy, burden, oppress, aggravate."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper