orbit
gb/ˈɔɹbɪt/ us/ˈɔɹbɪt/
B2
English
~ 9600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
curved path around another body
The path that something like a planet or satellite follows again and again around another thing, such as a star, planet, or nucleus.
Usage pattern:
the orbit of [something] around [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "orbit" with "rotate". "Orbit" describes moving around something else (The Earth orbits the Sun), while "rotate" describes spinning around your own center (The Earth rotates on its axis). They may also forget the preposition and say *the orbit of the Sun the Earth* instead of "the orbit of the Earth around the Sun".
Synonyms
path (More general and less technical; can refer to any route, not only in space or physics.)
|
trajectory (More technical; often used for missiles, spacecraft, or moving particles.)
Antonyms
collision (A crash between objects instead of a stable path where one object keeps circling another.)
Collocations
Earth's orbit
|in orbit
|low Earth orbit
|stable orbit
|circular orbit
|enter orbit
Themes
science
|space
|physics
|technology
Examples
- The satellite fell out of its orbit and burned up in the atmosphere.
- Earth completes one orbit around the Sun in about 365 days.
- Scientists adjusted the probe's orbit to bring it closer to the asteroid.
- Electrons move in regions around the nucleus that are sometimes described as orbits.
- The telescope will operate from a high polar orbit to improve coverage.
Learner examples
- The Moon moves in an orbit around Earth.
- The rocket put the small satellite into orbit.
- The planet’s orbit around its star is almost a circle.
- After one orbit, the spacecraft sent back many photos.
- The ship will stay in orbit for six months.
Verb
B2
action
2
move around another body
To go around something again and again in a curved path, like a planet or satellite goes around another body.
Usage pattern:
[something] orbits [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *orbit around around* (double "around") or use the wrong object, as in *orbit in the Sun* instead of "orbit the Sun" or "orbit around the Sun". Another common confusion is using "orbit" for spinning in place; for that, "rotate" or "spin" is more natural.
Synonyms
circle (Less technical and more general; can mean simply move around something, not always in a stable space path.)
|
revolve around (Very close in meaning; often used in scientific contexts like astronomy.)
Antonyms
collide with (Instead of circling safely around something, you crash into it.)
Collocations
orbit the Earth
|orbit the Sun
|satellites orbit
|planets orbit
|orbit around
|objects orbiting a star
Themes
science
|space
|physics
|technology
Examples
- Dozens of active satellites orbit our planet at different altitudes.
- The newly discovered exoplanets orbit a small red dwarf star.
- The space station orbits Earth roughly every ninety minutes.
- Tiny particles of dust orbit the young star in a wide disk.
- As the two black holes orbit each other, they emit gravitational waves.
Learner examples
- The Moon orbits the Earth.
- Many satellites orbit our planet.
- The planets orbit around the Sun.
- The space station orbits Earth many times each day.
- New moons were found orbiting the giant planet.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
area of influence or control
The area or group of people where someone or something has power, influence, or strong connection.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is in the orbit of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes take this meaning too literally and think it must relate to space. In contexts about power, culture, or relationships, "orbit" is figurative and similar to "sphere" or "circle of influence", not a physical path.
Synonyms
sphere (Often used in the phrase "sphere of influence"; slightly more common in everyday formal writing.)
|
circle (Can refer to a social group (social circle); less abstractly about power than "orbit".)
Antonyms
independence (Describes being free from another person’s or group’s influence or control, rather than being inside their orbit.)
Collocations
within the orbit of
|fall into the orbit of
|in the orbit of power
|political orbit
|cultural orbit
|economic orbit
Themes
society
|politics
|business
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Several smaller parties have moved into the government’s orbit ahead of the election.
- The city’s young artists quickly fell into the orbit of the famous director.
- These countries are increasingly drawn into the economic orbit of their larger neighbor.
- Tech startups in the region tend to operate in the orbit of a few powerful investors.
- The novel follows a group of characters who live in the orbit of a once-great musician.
Learner examples
- Many small companies are in the orbit of one big company.
- Young writers came into the orbit of the famous poet.
- These states moved into the political orbit of the rich nation.
- Everyone in the office works in the orbit of the CEO.
- The team lives in the orbit of their star player.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
bony eye socket in the skull
The hard, bone part of the skull that forms the hole where the eye sits.
Usage pattern:
fracture of the [left/right] orbit
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense is always about space because they already know the space meaning. In medical or anatomy contexts, "orbit" almost always means the eye socket, not a path in space.
Synonyms
eye socket (More common in everyday language and less technical than "orbit".)
Collocations
fracture of the orbit
|left orbit
|right orbit
|bony orbit
|walls of the orbit
|blowout fracture of the orbit
Themes
medicine
|anatomy
|body
|health
|science
Examples
- The CT scan revealed a small fracture of the left orbit.
- Swelling around the orbit made it difficult for the patient to open his eye.
- The surgeon reconstructed the floor of the orbit using a titanium plate.
- Trauma to the orbit can damage the nerves that control eye movement.
- Tumors in the orbit may cause the eye to bulge forward.
Learner examples
- He broke the bone of his left orbit in the accident.
- Doctors were worried about damage to the orbit around her eye.
- A hard hit to the face can injure the orbit.
- The orbit protects the eye inside the skull.
- There was a fracture in the lower part of the orbit.
Verb
C1
state
5
have as center or focus
To have one person or thing as the main focus, with other things depending on or arranged around it.
Usage pattern:
[something] orbits around [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this figurative use with the physical space meaning and think it must involve actual movement. In sentences about life, stories, or attention, "orbit" is metaphorical and similar to "revolve around" or "center on".
Synonyms
revolve around (Very similar figurative meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
center on (Close in meaning but a bit more direct and less metaphorical than "orbit".)
Antonyms
ignore (To pay no attention instead of making something the center of your life or activity.)
Collocations
life orbits around
|story orbits around
|world orbits around
|career orbits around
|everything orbits around
|whole plot orbits
Themes
emotions
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her entire life seems to orbit around her children.
- The series orbits around a single crime and its long-term effects.
- For years, his identity orbited around his job title.
- The plot orbits around a mysterious visitor who arrives in the village.
- Their social life orbits around a tight group of old school friends.
Learner examples
- His world orbits around his work.
- The movie’s story orbits around one family.
- For many parents, daily life orbits around their children.
- The TV show orbits around three main characters.
- Most of her free time orbits around her hobby.
Grammar
Dictionary form
orbit
IPA
GB/ˈɔɹbɪt/
US/ˈɔɹbɪt/
Syllables & stress
or - bit (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (or)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: orbit
- Plural: orbits
Verb
- Base: orbit
- 3rd Person Singular: orbits
- Present Participle: orbiting
- Past: orbited
Word family
Forms
orbits
noun
orbiting
verb
orbited
verb
Core family
orbital
adjective
Related words
orbiter
noun
suborbital
adjective
Advanced or less common
deorbit
verb
Expressions
fall out of orbit
1/fˈɔl ˈaʊt əv ˈɔɹbɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
stop being in space orbit
To stop going around a planet or other body in space in a stable path.
Examples
- If the satellite loses speed, it may fall out of orbit.
- The old spacecraft fell out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere.
- Engineers are trying to prevent the station from falling out of orbit.
go into orbit
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɪntu ˈɔɹbɪt/
idiom
technical
enter a stable space orbit
To start moving again and again around a planet or other body in space.
Examples
- The rocket will go into orbit about nine minutes after launch.
- If everything works correctly, the probe should go into orbit around Mars tomorrow.
- Engineers celebrated as the satellite finally went into orbit.
go into orbit
2/ɡˈoʊ ˈɪntu ˈɔɹbɪt/
idiom
informal
suddenly get very angry or excited
To suddenly become very angry or very excited, often in a loud or strong way.
Examples
- Dad went into orbit when he saw the phone bill.
- The crowd went into orbit when the team scored in the last minute.
- She’ll go into orbit if she finds out you lost the keys.
in orbit
1/ˈɪn ˈɔɹbɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
moving around a body in space
Moving again and again around a planet, moon, or star in space.
Examples
- The satellite has been in orbit for more than ten years.
- Once the spacecraft is in orbit, the crew will begin their experiments.
- Many pieces of space junk are still in orbit around Earth.
send into orbit
1/sˈɛnd ˈɪntu ˈɔɹbɪt/
idiom
technical
place something into space orbit
To make a rocket, satellite, or other object start moving again and again around a planet or other body in space.
Examples
- The new rocket can send heavier satellites into orbit.
- They plan to send a space telescope into orbit next year.
- Several countries now have the ability to send objects into orbit.
send into orbit
2/sˈɛnd ˈɪntu ˈɔɹbɪt/
idiom
informal
greatly increase success or value
To make something, such as a price, career, or success, rise very fast and very high.
Examples
- The viral video sent her popularity into orbit.
- The new product sent the company’s profits into orbit.
- One good review can sometimes send a small author’s career into orbit.
stay in orbit
1/stˈeɪ ˈɪn ˈɔɹbɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
remain moving around a body
To keep moving again and again around a planet or other body in space, without falling or flying away.
Examples
- The space station must fire its engines occasionally to stay in orbit.
- Satellites stay in orbit because of the balance between speed and gravity.
- Engineers designed the probe to stay in orbit for at least two years.