gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgra-və-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a force manifested by acceleration toward each other of two free material particles or bodies or of radiant-energy quanta : gravity sense 3a(2)

2

: the action or process of gravitating

gravitational

ˌgra-və-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

gravitationally adverb

gravitative

ˈgra-və-ˌtā-tiv 

adjective

Examples of gravitation in a Sentence

the gravitation of young people to computer careers

Recent Examples on the Web

Some legal experts say Trump’s gravitation toward loyalists could serve him well, while others have raised caution flags over it. —Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Nov. 2024

This overall gravitation toward traditional fashion is also evident in consumers’ search for brown suede jackets (up 128 percent), sweater dresses (up 196 percent), suede boots (up 196 percent) and burgundy bags (up 145 percent). —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024

Hence my gravitation towards Bandier’s Wesley Rivington ribbed tank. —Shelby Hyde, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2024

Separately, the ongoing work-from-home and hybrid-work trends continue to foster consumers’ gravitation toward more comfortable apparel options. —Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin gravitātiōn-, gravitātiō, from gravitāre "to move downward by its own weight, gravitate" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a force of attraction that tends to draw particles or bodies together : gravity sense 3b

2

: the action or process of gravitating

gravitational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

gravitationally

-ē

adverb

gravitative

ˈgrav-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

gravitation

noun

grav·​i·​ta·​tion ˌgrav-ə-ˈtā-shən 

: a force manifested by acceleration toward each other of two free material particles or bodies or of radiant-energy quanta as if they were particles (as in the bending of rays of starlight passing close to the sun) : an attraction between two bodies that is proportional to the product of their masses, inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, and independent of their chemical nature or physical state and of intervening matter

gravitational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

gravitationally

-ē 

adverb