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

In middle school, I wasn’t a great student and gravitated to theater.

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

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“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.”

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

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

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Related Words

• drift 
• incline 
• lean 
• tend