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gravitate

/ˌgrævəˈteɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: gravitated; gravitating; gravitates

To gravitate is to move toward or feel attracted to something. People gravitate toward things they like.

Gravitate used to refer to how gravity pulls objects toward the Earth, but now it also describes how people are pulled toward things they like. Little kids gravitate towards playgrounds, someone athletic will gravitate toward sports, and someone with a nice voice might gravitate toward a singing career. Dogs gravitate toward squirrels — they move toward them whenever they have a chance. But don’t blame gravity for that one!

Definitions of gravitate
  1. verb
    move toward
    “The conversation gravitated towards politics”
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    type of:
    be given, incline, lean, run, tend
    have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
  2. verb
    be attracted to
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    type of:
    be
    have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
  3. verb
    move due to the pull of gravitation
    “The stars gravitate towards each other”
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    type of:
    move
    move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘gravitate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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