evolve

verb

Sayee-VOLVUS/ɪˈvɑlv/UK/ɪˈvɒlv/

Formsevolves, evolving, evolved

10 meanings of evolve

Practice

1
verbintransitive
To slowly change into something different over time.
Like a small stream slowly changing its path over many years.
Languages evolve as new generations add their own words.
Her musical taste evolved a lot during college.
Similardevelop, change, grow, mature, progress
Oppositestagnate, regress
Note
2
verbtransitive
To slowly change something into a different form.
Like reshaping a lump of clay into something new, bit by bit.
The designer evolved the logo into a cleaner shape.
They want to evolve their business model.
Similardevelop, transform, refine, adapt, change
3
verbintransitive
To slowly develop in a group of living things over many generations.
Like a group of animals slowly getting better at staying alive, over many lifetimes.
Sharp claws evolved in big cats over millions of years.
Wings can evolve when flight helps animals survive.
Similardevelop, arise, emerge
Note
4
verbtransitive
When a group of living things slowly gains a new feature over many generations.
Like a family slowly learning a skill and passing it down for generations.
Over time, bats evolved the ability to use sound to see.
Some fish can evolve special organs that make light.
Similardevelop, acquire
Note
5
verbtransitive
To slowly create something or help it grow into being.
Like slowly building something new out of a small first idea.
The writer evolved a whole new world for her story.
Good teachers help students evolve their own ideas.
Similardevelop, devise, formulate, create, forge
Note
6
verbtransitive
To make a group of living things change over many generations.
Intense pressure from the environment evolved the isolated population into a new species.
Strong natural forces can evolve a species over countless generations.
Similartransform, change, shape
Note
7
verbintransitive
To move forward through a system in a steady, orderly way.
Like cards moving one by one through a sorting machine.
The parts evolve through the factory line one stage at a time.
Each ticket evolves through the system until it reaches the right desk.
Similarmove, pass, proceed, progress
Note
8
verbtransitive
To move something through a system in a steady, orderly way.
Like moving toys along a track from one box to the next.
The machine evolves the bottles through each cleaning stage.
Operators evolve the parts through the line one step at a time.
Similarpass, move, cycle
Note
9
verbtransitive
To give off a gas during a chemical reaction.
Like fizzy soda letting out bubbles of gas when you open it.
The mixture evolved bubbles of gas when acid was added.
Some reactions evolve heat and gas at the same time.
Similarrelease, emit, liberate, produce, generate
Oppositeabsorb
Note

Less common meaning

10
verbobsoletetransitive
To wind or unwind something, such as a rope or thread.
Like slowly rolling a string off a spool.
The sailor evolved the long rope from the wooden drum.
She watched the maid evolve the thread onto a spindle.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin ēvolvō, meaning "to unroll" or "unfold." It comes from ē- ("out of") plus volvō ("roll").