gravitate
gb/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/ us/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
B2
English
vonzódik, húz valakihez/valamihez, odasodródik, odahúzódik, gravitál, terelődik
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [someone/something]
As a kid, she gravitated toward books and quiet hobbies.
Gyerekként inkább a könyvekhez és a csendes hobbikhoz vonzódott.
New employees often gravitate to the people who trained them.
Az új dolgozók gyakran azokhoz húznak, akik betanították őket.
He tends to gravitate toward roles where he can work independently.
Learner examples
I gravitate toward calm people.
A nyugodt emberekhez vonzódom.
She gravitated to art classes.
A művészeti órákhoz vonzódott.
Common mistake:
Usually intransitive: you don’t typically say *gravitate something*. Also, don’t confuse it with graduate.
Meaning
feel drawn to something
Collocations
gravitate toward
|gravitate towards
|gravitate to
|naturally gravitate
|gravitate to music
|gravitate toward science
|gravitate toward people
|gravitate to familiar things
|gravitate toward simpler solutions
|gravitate toward like-minded people
Synonyms
be drawn to (Emphasizes attraction that feels natural rather than chosen.)
|
be attracted to (More general; can be physical or emotional attraction.)
|
lean toward (Often used for choices or opinions rather than social attraction.)
Antonyms
avoid (Actively keep away from someone or something.)
|
shun (Avoid deliberately, often strongly.)
Themes
relationships
|personality
|daily_life
Definition
to naturally like or prefer someone or something
To be naturally attracted to a particular person, thing, or activity, especially as a preference that influences what you choose or who you spend time with.
VERB
B2
2
odasodródik
B2
odahúzódik
B2
Usage pattern:
[people/things] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [place/group]
During the break, people gravitated toward the coffee table.
A szünetben az emberek a kávéasztal felé sodródtak.
After the talk ended, the audience gravitated to the front to ask questions.
Az előadás után a közönség a terem eleje felé húzódott, hogy kérdéseket tegyen fel.
At parties, he always gravitates toward the kitchen.
Learner examples
People gravitated toward the music.
Az emberek a zene felé sodródtak.
We gravitated to the window seats.
Az ablak melletti helyekhez húzódtunk.
Common mistake:
Often used for gradual movement or gathering, not for a quick intentional action like ‘run’ or ‘go straight to’.
Meaning
move gradually toward a place
Collocations
gravitate toward the door
|gravitate to the bar
|gravitate toward the exits
|gravitate toward the window
|gravitate to the center
|crowds gravitate
|guests gravitated
|gravitate to the back
|gravitate toward the stage
|gravitate toward the buffet
Synonyms
drift (Suggests a slow, unplanned movement; less sense of being ‘drawn’.)
|
cluster (Focuses on forming a group rather than moving toward a point.)
|
converge (More formal and directional; often used for many moving to one point.)
Antonyms
disperse (Move away and spread out rather than gather.)
|
scatter (Separate quickly in different directions.)
Themes
daily_life
|social_life
|movement
Definition
to slowly go toward a place or group
To move gradually toward a particular place, position, or group, especially as if pulled there by interest, convenience, or social forces.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
gravitál
C1
Usage pattern:
[object] gravitate(s) toward [mass/center]
In space, smaller bodies gravitate toward larger masses.
A világűrben a kisebb testek a nagyobb tömegek felé gravitálnak.
Particles in the cloud gravitated toward the densest region.
A felhő részecskéi a legsűrűbb régió felé gravitáltak.
Over time, material can gravitate toward the center of a forming planet.
Learner examples
Objects gravitate toward Earth.
A tárgyak a Föld felé gravitálnak.
The ball gravitated downward.
A labda a gravitáció hatására lefelé mozdult.
Common mistake:
In everyday English this sense is less common; most uses are figurative (preferences, people, topics).
Meaning
be pulled by gravity
Collocations
gravitate toward the center
|gravitate around
|gravitate toward a larger mass
|objects gravitate
|bodies gravitate
|gravitate under gravity
Synonyms
be attracted (In physics, can refer to gravitational attraction; broader term.)
Antonyms
repel (Move away due to a pushing force rather than attraction.)
Themes
science
|physics
Definition
to move toward something because of gravity
To move or tend to move toward something because of gravitational force.
VERB
C1
4
terelődik
B2
Usage pattern:
[conversation/discussion/thoughts] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [topic]
The conversation quickly gravitated toward the upcoming election.
A beszélgetés gyorsan a közelgő választások felé terelődött.
Whenever we meet, the discussion gravitates to work complaints.
Valahányszor találkozunk, a beszélgetés rendre a munkahelyi panaszokra terelődik.
Her thoughts kept gravitating back to what he had said.
Learner examples
Our talk gravitated to travel plans.
A beszélgetésünk az utazási tervekre terelődött.
The discussion gravitated toward costs.
A megbeszélés a költségek felé terelődött.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for a sudden change of topic; it suggests a gradual, natural shift.
Meaning
shift to a topic or issue
Collocations
conversation gravitated toward
|discussion gravitated to
|gravitate toward politics
|gravitate toward money
|gravitate toward the same question
|gravitate toward solutions
|attention gravitated toward
|debate gravitated toward
Synonyms
turn to (More direct; can be intentional rather than gradual.)
|
drift to (Often implies an unplanned shift; slightly more informal.)
|
veer toward (Can suggest a noticeable change in direction.)
Antonyms
move on from (Leave a topic behind rather than return to it.)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|work
Definition
to slowly start talking or thinking about something
To gradually turn to or become focused on a particular topic, issue, or outcome, especially in conversation or thinking.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gravitate
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
US/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
grav - it - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grav)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: gravitate
- 3rd Person Singular: gravitates
- Present Participle: gravitating
- Past: gravitated
Word family
Forms
gravitates
verb
gravitating
verb
gravitated
verb
Core family
gravity
noun B1
gravitational
adjective C1
Related words
gravitation
noun C1
Advanced or less common
gravitationally
adverb C1
Expressions
gravitate around
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt ɚˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
revolve around a central thing
to be mainly about one person or idea
Examples
- The plot gravitates around a single family secret.
- Most of their arguments gravitate around money.
- In the early days, decisions gravitated around the founder.
Learner examples
- Our plans gravitate around the budget.
gravitate away from
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt əwˈeɪ fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
move away in preference
to slowly stop liking or using something
Examples
- As they got older, they gravitated away from nightlife.
- The company has gravitated away from long-term contracts.
- Viewers are gravitating away from cable toward streaming.
Learner examples
- I gravitated away from spicy food.
- They gravitated away from old habits.
gravitate back to
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt bˈæk tə/
fixed phrase
return to an old preference
to go back to what you liked before
Examples
- Even after moving abroad, she gravitated back to her hometown every summer.
- He tried different workout plans but always gravitated back to running.
- The team experimented with new tools, then gravitated back to the old system.
Learner examples
- I gravitate back to coffee.
- She gravitated back to her old friends.