gravitational force

American  

[grav-i-tey-shuh-nl fawrs] / ˌgræv ɪˈteɪ ʃə nl ˈfɔrs /

Also G-force

noun

Aerospace,

1. a unit of acceleration equal to the acceleration of gravity at the earth's surface.

   Fighter pilots train to tolerate very high G-forces with breathing techniques and specialized equipment.

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Etymology

Origin of gravitational force

First recorded in 1690–1710

Example Sentences

“The economics of this are a gravitational force that can’t be ignored by or overwritten by politics,” Dorris said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

Crowe has a planet-sized gravitational force on screen that he lends to the outsize Göring and Shannon possesses the same weight.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

Limbs and neck wrestling relentlessly with immense gravitational force.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

Stellar speeds offer a way to weigh a galaxy; the gravitational force each particular star feels depends on the galaxy’s total mass.

From Scientific American • Oct. 11, 2023

As John Michell pointed out in his pioneering paper in 1783, a black hole still exerts a gravitational force on nearby objects.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking