gravitate

[grav-i-teyt]

verb (used without object)

gravitated, gravitating 

1. to move or tend to move under the influence of gravitational force.

2. to tend toward the lowest level; sink; fall.

3. to have a natural tendency or be strongly attracted (usually followed by to ortoward ).

   Musicians gravitate toward one another.

   Synonyms: move, lean, tend, incline

gravitate

/ ˈɡrævɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. physics to move under the influence of gravity

2. to be influenced or drawn, as by strong impulses

3. to sink or settle

Other Word Forms

• gravitater noun
• supergravitate verb (used without object)
• ungravitating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitate¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from New Latin gravitātus (past participle of gravitāre “to obey the laws of gravitation,” coined by Sir Isaac Newton ); gravity, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The study also found that wealthier people tend to gravitate toward concierge practices more than sick people—and they enter with lifelong health advantages.

Read more on Barron's

But during the summer, Conrad found himself gravitating to jazz, the genre he was introduced to in high school when he was enrolled in jazz choir.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Everyone likes a chicken sandwich,” he notes, but while older consumers still drink hot, black coffee, younger ones gravitate toward colorful energy drinks and iced concoctions that look perfect drizzled with caramel on TikTok.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Visibility attracts sponsorship, and major brands continue to gravitate towards women's football.

Read more on BBC

Longer term, the stock could ultimately gravitate back toward the very round $600 level, where a large gap fill from the April 16 session awaits.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• drift 
• incline 
• lean 
• tend