gravitate

/ˈɡrævɪteɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrævɪteɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgra-və-ˌtāt/ (ame, mw)

gravitate — verb

  • gravitatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • gravitateshe / she / it
  • gravitatedpast simple
  • gravitating-ing form

1. to be naturally drawn to a person, place, activity, or idea, so that you move to

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to be naturally drawn to a person, place, activity, or idea, so that you move toward them or spend time with them without making a conscious decision — for example, young professionals gravitating toward a lively city, or a child gravitating toward a kind teacher.

例句

After the lecture, a small group of students gravitated toward the professor to ask more questions.

gravitate + toward(s) + person for seeking attention

Young artists often gravitate to big cities like Berlin or Tokyo because of the creative energy there.

gravitate to [place] for opportunities or energy

同義詞
  • be drawn to

    softer, more passive — describes the feeling rather than the movement

  • lean toward

    less physical movement, more about preference in opinion or choice

  • be attracted to

    suggests romantic or aesthetic appeal more than natural inclination

反義詞
  • avoid

    active choice to stay away rather than natural pull toward

  • shun

    stronger, more deliberate avoidance

文法句型

gravitate + to/toward(s) + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or group acting by preference rather than obligation. The object following 'to' or 'toward(s)' is typically a person, place, or type of activity.

常見錯誤

❌I gravitate to read books.
✅I gravitate toward reading books.
💡use a noun or gerund, not an infinitive, after 'gravitate to/toward.'
❌She gravitated the new teacher.
✅She gravitated toward the new teacher.
💡gravitate is intransitive and needs a preposition.

2. to move slowly and steadily toward an object or point because of the pull of a p

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to move slowly and steadily toward an object or point because of the pull of a physical force such as gravity — for example, dust particles gravitating toward a planet.

例句

Over millions of years, smaller space rocks gravitated toward the larger planet and became its moons.

gravitate toward(s) [celestial body] — physical movement under gravity

The fine dust in the lab slowly gravitated to the positively charged metal plate.

同義詞
  • move toward

    general movement without implying a specific force causing it

  • be pulled toward

    more explicit about the attracting force

  • drift toward

    gradual movement, possibly without a clear attracting force

反義詞
  • fly away from

    rapid movement in the opposite direction

  • repel

    to push away rather than pull toward

文法句型

gravitate + to/toward(s) + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently found in scientific or technical writing. The subject is usually an inanimate object or particle, and 'to' or 'toward' identifies the attracting mass or force. This is the original literal sense from which the figurative sense (verb/1) developed.

常見錯誤

❌The moon gravitates around the Earth.
✅The moon orbits the Earth.
💡'gravitate' implies movement toward a force source, not a circular path; use 'orbit' for circling.