Gravitate: meaning, definitions and examples

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gravitate

 

[ ˈɡræv.ɪ.teɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical forces

To gravitate means to move toward or be attracted to something, often due to physical forces like gravity. It can also describe a natural tendency to gravitate toward specific interests or activities.

Synonyms

attract, draw, lure, pull

Examples of usage

  • Children tend to gravitate towards bright colors.
  • The planets gravitate around the sun.
  • Birds often gravitate to areas with food.

Translations

Translations of the word "gravitate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gravitá

🇮🇳 गुरुत्वाकर्षण करना

🇩🇪 gravitieren

🇮🇩 bergravitasi

🇺🇦 гравітуювати

🇵🇱 grawitować

🇯🇵 引き寄せる

🇫🇷 graviter

🇪🇸 gravitación

🇹🇷 çekmek

🇰🇷 중력 작용하다

🇸🇦 الجاذبية

🇨🇿 gravita

🇸🇰 gravitovať

🇨🇳 引力作用

🇸🇮 gravitirati

🇮🇸 draga að sér

🇰🇿 гравитация

🇬🇪 გრადიტაცია

🇦🇿 cazibə

🇲🇽 gravitación

Word origin

The word 'gravitate' originates from the Latin word 'gravitas', which means weight or heaviness. It made its way into English in the early 17th century, combining 'gravitas' with the verb-forming suffix '-ate', to convey the action of moving as if under the influence of weight. Initially, it was primarily used in contexts relating to physics and astronomy, particularly to describe the attraction between celestial bodies due to gravitational forces. Over time, its use expanded into more metaphorical applications, describing inclinations or tendencies in behavior and preferences.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,776, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.