as in circles
to travel completely around
the moon orbits the Earth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of orbits
IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2026
The plan represents a departure for Europe’s top satellite makers, which have traditionally focused on large, complex spacecraft in high orbits, but the industry has been disrupted by Starlink’s small, relatively cheap, low-orbit machines.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
If a planet orbits close to its star in an elliptical orbit, then its interior will stretch and squeeze as the gravitational strength of the star changes.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The moon orbits Earth on a path inclined by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Because the station orbits Earth once every 90 minutes, the crew on board sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Bichette could consult Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews for advice on how to handle the pressure of playing in a city that seemingly orbits around its team, but even that’s not the same.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Jan. 2026
At Real Madrid, Bellingham is not the star around whom everything orbits in the same way, sharing the stage with Kylian Mbappe and operating with less freedom in attack.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Canadian and American researchers simulated satellite orbits in low Earth orbit and generated a metric, the CRASH Clock, that measures the number of days before collisions start happening if collision-avoidance maneuvers stop.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2026
The plan represents a departure for Europe’s top satellite makers, which have traditionally focused on large, complex spacecraft in high orbits, but the industry has been disrupted by Starlink’s small, relatively cheap, low-orbit machines.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
If a planet orbits close to its star in an elliptical orbit, then its interior will stretch and squeeze as the gravitational strength of the star changes.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The moon orbits Earth on a path inclined by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Because the station orbits Earth once every 90 minutes, the crew on board sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Bichette could consult Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews for advice on how to handle the pressure of playing in a city that seemingly orbits around its team, but even that’s not the same.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Jan. 2026
At Real Madrid, Bellingham is not the star around whom everything orbits in the same way, sharing the stage with Kylian Mbappe and operating with less freedom in attack.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbits
Noun
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It’s coordinated by local cells responding to each other through signals and feedback loops, making decisions where the information actually exists.—
Amy Eliza Wong,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The track has been under construction for months, and now loops across several levels of the backlot.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
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But this award, which was inaugurated in 2023 with a Jesso win, circles the same handful of writers, and country scribes like Jessie Jo Dillon, pop bards like Amy Allen, and reggaeton men-at-arms like Edgar Barrera are just as up next.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Then, looking at the amp rating of your circuits (most laundry appliances require a 15–30 amp circuit).—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The film’s story spans thousands of years and traverses multiple continents, with locations ranging from Antarctica to Africa to the titular Indian city.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2026
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Published in 1994, The Riders follows Scully, an Australian man who traverses Europe, alongside his young daughter Billie, in search of the wife that abandoned them.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Terrance Gore, a former outfielder and three-time World Series champion known for his blazing speed on the base paths, has died at 34 years old, according to Major League Baseball officials.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Local boys and girls high school soccer teams found out their playoff paths on Saturday when the CIF Southern Section released its postseason brackets.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Applause rings out, cheers and whoops are abundant.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Payton’s perception of him then rings true in the present.—
Trevor Woods,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The two finished with Blair on very different trajectories.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The duo, young for their career trajectories, first met at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Paired with stronger workforce-training and credential programs, such a system could help steer students into the pathways best suited to their abilities and goals.—
Neetu Arnold,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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School leaders describe the campus as part of an effort to weave early college, dual credit and career pathways through every high school.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Orbits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbits. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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