gravitate
gb/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/ us/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B2
action
1
feel drawn to something
to naturally like or prefer someone or something
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
Usually intransitive: you don’t typically say *gravitate something*. Also, don’t confuse it with graduate.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
avoid (Actively keep away from someone or something.)
|
shun (Avoid deliberately, often strongly.)
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
Thèmes
relationships
|personality
|daily_life
Exemples
- As a kid, she gravitated toward books and quiet hobbies.
- New employees often gravitate to the people who trained them.
- He tends to gravitate toward roles where he can work independently.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I gravitate toward calm people.
- She gravitated to art classes.
Verbe
B2
process
2
move gradually toward a place
to slowly go toward a place or group
Schéma d’usage :
[people/things] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [place/group]
Erreur fréquente :
Often used for gradual movement or gathering, not for a quick intentional action like ‘run’ or ‘go straight to’.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
disperse (Move away and spread out rather than gather.)
|
scatter (Separate quickly in different directions.)
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
Thèmes
daily_life
|social_life
|movement
Exemples
- During the break, people gravitated toward the coffee table.
- After the talk ended, the audience gravitated to the front to ask questions.
- At parties, he always gravitates toward the kitchen.
Exemples pédagogiques
- People gravitated toward the music.
- We gravitated to the window seats.
Verbe
technical
C1
process
3
be pulled by gravity
to move toward something because of gravity
Schéma d’usage :
[object] gravitate(s) toward [mass/center]
Erreur fréquente :
In everyday English this sense is less common; most uses are figurative (preferences, people, topics).
Synonymes
be attracted (In physics, can refer to gravitational attraction; broader term.)
Antonymes
repel (Move away due to a pushing force rather than attraction.)
Collocations
gravitate toward the center
|gravitate around
|gravitate toward a larger mass
|objects gravitate
|bodies gravitate
|gravitate under gravity
Thèmes
science
|physics
Exemples
- In space, smaller bodies gravitate toward larger masses.
- Particles in the cloud gravitated toward the densest region.
- Over time, material can gravitate toward the center of a forming planet.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Objects gravitate toward Earth.
- The ball gravitated downward.
Verbe
C1
process
4
shift to a topic or issue
to slowly start talking or thinking about something
Schéma d’usage :
[conversation/discussion/thoughts] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [topic]
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t use it for a sudden change of topic; it suggests a gradual, natural shift.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
move on from (Leave a topic behind rather than return to it.)
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
Thèmes
communication
|thinking
|work
Exemples
- The conversation quickly gravitated toward the upcoming election.
- Whenever we meet, the discussion gravitates to work complaints.
- Her thoughts kept gravitating back to what he had said.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Our talk gravitated to travel plans.
- The discussion gravitated toward costs.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
gravitate
API
GB/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
US/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
grav - it - ate (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (grav)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: gravitate
- 3rd Person Singular: gravitates
- Present Participle: gravitating
- Past: gravitated
Famille de mots
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
Exemples
- The plot gravitates around a single family secret.
- Most of their arguments gravitate around money.
- In the early days, decisions gravitated around the founder.
gravitate away from
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt əwˈeɪ fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
move away in preference
to slowly stop liking or using something
Exemples
- 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.
gravitate back to
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt bˈæk tə/
fixed phrase
return to an old preference
to go back to what you liked before
Exemples
- 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.