gravitate

[grav-i-teyt] /ˈgræv ɪˌteɪt/
verb (used without object), gravitated, gravitating.
1.
to move or tend to move under the influence of gravitational force.
2.
to tend toward the lowest level; sink; fall.
3.
to have a natural tendency or be strongly attracted (usually followed by to or toward):
Musicians gravitate toward one another.
Origin
1635-45; < Neo-Latin gravitātus (past participle of gravitāre). See gravity, -ate1
Related forms
gravitater, noun
supergravitate, verb (used without object), supergravitated, supergravitating.
ungravitating, adjective
Synonyms
3. incline, tend, lean, move.
Examples from the web for gravitate
  • Revenue from credit derivatives will fall as they gravitate towards exchanges, eroding spreads for dealers.
  • Yet teens gravitate toward peers for another, more powerful reason: to invest in the future rather than the past.
  • It could be that, compared to other professions, the people that gravitate to healthcare tend to be less empathic.
  • So naturally they'll gravitate towards your yard instead of a neighbor's.
  • But viewers may gravitate toward different shows during an economic downturn.
  • Offer music fans a virtually infinite choice of songs free of charge, and they will still gravitate to hits.
  • Shrimp normally gravitate toward safe, dark corners.
  • Nightmare sufferers, the new work indicates, may have a natural tendency to gravitate to the arts.
  • These seem to be the areas to where foreigners gravitate.
  • People not only gravitate towards web sites that reflect their political prejudices.
British Dictionary definitions for gravitate

gravitate

/ˈɡrævɪˌteɪt/
verb (intransitive)
1.
(physics) to move under the influence of gravity
2.
usually foll by to or towards. to be influenced or drawn, as by strong impulses
3.
to sink or settle
Derived Forms
gravitater, noun
Word Origin and History for gravitate
v.

1640s, "exert weight, move downward," from Modern Latin gravitatus, past participle of gravitare "gravitate," from Latin gravitas "heaviness, weight" (see gravity). Meaning "To be affected by gravity" is from 1690s. Figurative use from 1670s. Related: Gravitated; gravitating. The classical Latin verb was gravare "to make heavy, burden, oppress, aggravate."