gravitational
Americanadjective
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Physics. of or relating to the force of attraction between two masses.
The gravitational effect of the moon causes the rise and fall of ocean tides.
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of or relating to a strong movement or natural tendency toward something or someone.
Their gravitational attraction to self-destructive behavior has been the subject of much study.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gravitational
First recorded in 1850–55; gravitation ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing gravitational
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While she never escapes the gravitational pull of her own gendered perspective, Ms. Saxbe nonetheless posits fresh approaches on how men parent and where they might improve.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
To understand the gravitational pull toward golf, consider the sport as a sequence of problems.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
One surprise was that teachers were susceptible to the gravitational mass.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
However, the Earth’s gravitational pull is such that the Moon also orbits the planet every 27 days.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
Like light, gravitational waves carry energy away from the objects that emit them.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
