orbit 1 of 2

noun

Definition of orbitnext
as in loop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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orbit

2 of 2

verb

as in to circle
to travel completely around the moon orbits the Earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun orbit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of orbit are compass, gamut, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When might compass be a better fit than orbit?

In some situations, the words compass and orbit are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

Where would gamut be a reasonable alternative to orbit?

The words gamut and orbit can be used in similar contexts, but gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When can range be used instead of orbit?

The words range and orbit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

In what contexts can scope take the place of orbit?

Although the words scope and orbit have much in common, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

When would sweep be a good substitute for orbit?

The meanings of sweep and orbit largely overlap; however, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of orbit
Noun
Wang and his crew also conducted 22 research experiments related to human physiology in orbit that will provide insights for future long-duration missions deep into the cosmos. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 The entire constellation should be in orbit by 2030. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
The Lancet kill was a notable success, because while Russian scout drones orbit in an area for several hours, the Lancet flies directly to its target. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 SpaceX launched a crew of four private astronauts into space on Monday, on the first human mission to orbit on a trajectory that passes above both the Earth’s poles. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for orbit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbit
  1. loop
  2. circle
  3. circuit
  4. traverse
  5. trajectory
  6. path
  7. route
Noun
  • Orange loops show where the eclipse begins or ends at sunrise and sunset.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Two-step leadership involves reframing those losses as loops, not cliffs.
    — Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of loop
Verb
  • Several minutes later, the witness said a police helicopter began circling the area, and two officers later hiked up the mountain to the shooting scene to speak with witnesses and look for evidence.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Four dolphins died, green water and condemned buildings Concerns over conditions at the park began circling in October when three bottlenose dolphins died in just one week.
    — Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Honda also owns the Suzuka circuit where the Japanese Grand Prix is held.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • One activity that is a joy for me every semester is showing them photos of various technologies—e.g., a bridge, a COVID vaccine, lines of computer code, a circuit diagram—and asking what is social about each one.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of circuit
Verb
  • Corporate boardrooms and executive teams will need to traverse this new landscape, by weighing the risks of maintaining their DEI teams and initiatives against the potential fallout of revising their DEI policies—or abandoning their efforts completely.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • When trans people are so often portrayed as existing in isolation from other people, this documentary is a joy to watch as Harper and Will traverse the country making each other laugh and drinking bad beer.
    — Kate Sosin, Them., 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of traverse
Noun
  • The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Despite this upward trajectory, the industry faced challenges in 2024 due to adverse weather conditions, leading to heavy crop losses.
    — Rachel King, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of trajectory
Noun
  • Trump lost Virginia in 2024 by nearly 5 percentage points, making Earle-Sears’s path to victory even harder.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Severe thunderstorms and relentless rain are triggering catastrophic flooding across the middle of the US this weekend, as areas already hit hard by a recent string of storms and tornadoes remain in the path of this current system.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of path
Noun
  • On Thursday, Palmer caught a touchdown running a wheel route.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2025
  • By 1928, only one veteran walked the parade route while the rest rode in cars or in the backs of trucks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of route

Browse Nearby Words

orb
orbit
orbited
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Cite this Entry

“Orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbit. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on orbit

Nglish: Translation of orbit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orbit

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