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

One reason many clients gravitated to Barnett is that, unlike agents, he did not take a commission.

From Los Angeles Times

“So it’s not like sitting there staring at a map. It’s really engaging with something that children would naturally tend to gravitate toward at this age.”

From Los Angeles Times

Nowadays, she gravitates most toward the children’s section, where her baby clothes and old Halloween costumes are available to rent.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s the music that I really gravitate to, music that just feels really honest.

From Los Angeles Times

She gravitates to romance “to get back to that place of hopefulness, and affirm the beauty and magic and meaningfulness of life.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drift 
• incline 
• lean 
• tend