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
Where flights set to enter full orbit and remain in space for a few days require their astronauts to quarantine, this 11-minute flight doesn't hold the same requirements, allowing for the women to give cameras a shot of them reaching out to fans and family for a personal send-off. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025 The carbonaceous material, which isn’t very durable, likely gets broken down through heat stress when its orbit takes it close to the Sun. —Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
For instance, the disc could be formed by gas captured by the flares that would be coming from shocks in the disc, caused by a small celestial object repeatedly traveling through — thus disrupting the orbiting material. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025 Isaacman is also an avid pilot who self-funded and led two private missions to orbit on Crew Dragon. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 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
  • But for me, returning to Top Chef wasn’t about closing a loop or arriving at a conclusion.
    — Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • In our test, which involves playing a YouTube video on a loop with the screen at full brightness, the phone lasted 16 hours and 6 minutes on a single charge.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of loop
Verb
  • Hiking here rewards you with panoramic views of the coastline, where hawks circle overhead and the scent of sagebrush floats on the breeze.
    — Cliff Lewis, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The boys board a rescue boat and pull five souls off the Flicka’s rescue dinghy, all while sharks circle and buck.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Cruz then traversed the international winter league circuit for six years.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Urban environments, by contrast, often overload the brain's stress circuits with noise, artificial lighting and architectural monotony.
    — Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of circuit
Verb
  • Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Hundreds, if not thousands, of insect species most likely migrate, including dragonflies that cross the Indian Ocean, moths that traverse Australia and plant hoppers that windsurf through East Asia.
    — Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of traverse
Noun
  • But this planet follows a unique trajectory—looping over the top and bottom of the star pair, more like a hula hoop being spun vertically rather than flat.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • But Merced has also had a stratospheric trajectory to get here.
    — Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of trajectory
Noun
  • Kelenic also doesn't have a clear path to playing time in Atlanta.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • While inflation cooled in March, reaching a six-month low, the path has been uneven, and Powell has faced criticism from both the left and the right over whether the Fed acted too slowly—or too aggressively.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of path
Noun
  • American military veteran hijacks plane in Belize, officials say The airplane, which had only 14 passengers on board, had been due to fly the short route from Corozal near the Mexican border to San Pedro, a popular tourist destination off the coast.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Amanda McPherson, 38, and Johnathon McPherson, 27, were caught when detectives discovered seemingly unrelated cases of fraud shared the same postal routes, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said in an April 17 news release.
    — Mark Price, Miami Herald, 18 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 24 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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