gravitational

[grav-i-tey-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. Physics.,  of or relating to the force of attraction between two masses.

   The gravitational effect of the moon causes the rise and fall of ocean tides.

2. of or relating to a strong movement or natural tendency toward something or someone.

   Their gravitational attraction to self-destructive behavior has been the subject of much study.

Other Word Forms

• gravitationally adverb
• antigravitational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitational¹

First recorded in 1850–55; gravitation ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

All those decades he’s spent trying to uncover its backstory are evidence of its almost gravitational pull.

From Los Angeles Times

“Everyone has some relationship to being an outsider and being an insider. It’s not black and white. That’s what this movie wants to get into. Those things can shift, the gravitational pull is not anchored.”

From Los Angeles Times

The crew of Apollo 8 would be the first to travel beyond low Earth orbit and enter the gravitational pull of another celestial body.

From BBC

It makes sense that restaurants — already operating on razor-thin margins — would be especially vulnerable to that same gravitational pull.

From Salon

Whether or not that's realistic, it shows the kind of gravitational pull Davide carries - backed not just by a famous surname, but by the trust of elite players.

From BBC