gravitate
gb/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/ us/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
B2
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Verbo
B2
action
1
feel drawn to something
to naturally like or prefer someone or something
Schema d'uso:
[someone] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [someone/something]
Errore comune:
Usually intransitive: you don’t typically say *gravitate something*. Also, don’t confuse it with graduate.
Sinonimi
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.)
Contrari
avoid (Actively keep away from someone or something.)
|
shun (Avoid deliberately, often strongly.)
Collocazioni
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
Temi
relationships
|personality
|daily_life
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- I gravitate toward calm people.
- She gravitated to art classes.
Verbo
B2
process
2
move gradually toward a place
to slowly go toward a place or group
Schema d'uso:
[people/things] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [place/group]
Errore comune:
Often used for gradual movement or gathering, not for a quick intentional action like ‘run’ or ‘go straight to’.
Sinonimi
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.)
Contrari
disperse (Move away and spread out rather than gather.)
|
scatter (Separate quickly in different directions.)
Collocazioni
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
Temi
daily_life
|social_life
|movement
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- People gravitated toward the music.
- We gravitated to the window seats.
Verbo
technical
C1
process
3
be pulled by gravity
to move toward something because of gravity
Schema d'uso:
[object] gravitate(s) toward [mass/center]
Errore comune:
In everyday English this sense is less common; most uses are figurative (preferences, people, topics).
Sinonimi
be attracted (In physics, can refer to gravitational attraction; broader term.)
Contrari
repel (Move away due to a pushing force rather than attraction.)
Collocazioni
gravitate toward the center
|gravitate around
|gravitate toward a larger mass
|objects gravitate
|bodies gravitate
|gravitate under gravity
Temi
science
|physics
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- Objects gravitate toward Earth.
- The ball gravitated downward.
Verbo
C1
process
4
shift to a topic or issue
to slowly start talking or thinking about something
Schema d'uso:
[conversation/discussion/thoughts] gravitate(s) to/toward(s) [topic]
Errore comune:
Don’t use it for a sudden change of topic; it suggests a gradual, natural shift.
Sinonimi
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.)
Contrari
move on from (Leave a topic behind rather than return to it.)
Collocazioni
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
Temi
communication
|thinking
|work
Esempi
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- Our talk gravitated to travel plans.
- The discussion gravitated toward costs.
Grammatica
Forma base
gravitate
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
US/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt/
Sillabe e accento
grav - it - ate (3 sillabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (grav)
Forme flesse
Verb
- Base: gravitate
- 3rd Person Singular: gravitates
- Present Participle: gravitating
- Past: gravitated
Famiglia di parole
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
Espressioni
gravitate around
1/ɡɹˈævɪtˌeɪt ɚˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
revolve around a central thing
to be mainly about one person or idea
Esempi
- 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
Esempi
- 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
Esempi
- 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.