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

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

As the ‘90s contributed to using gingham in more rebellious ways, the pandemic, connection to nature, sustainability, and collective need to connect beyond screens led to the gravitation toward outdoor dining and dinner parties, where gingham tablecloths are a classic. —Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2024

The mystery of why a universe full of matter gravitationally attracting all other matter hasn’t yet collapsed on itself has haunted astronomy at least since Isaac Newton’s introduction of a universal law of gravitation. —Richard Panek, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023

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