English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb

evolve

ih-VOLV
verb
1
Of living things or species, to develop and change gradually over many generations.
"Birds are believed to have evolved from a group of feathered dinosaurs."
2
To develop gradually into a different or more advanced form.
"The startup evolved from a two-person team into a company of hundreds."
"Her taste in music has evolved a lot since university."
3
(chemistry) To give off a gas during a chemical reaction.
"The reaction evolves carbon dioxide as a byproduct."

How to Use Evolve

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo gradually change and develop into something different, over time.

Common pairings
evolve over time evolve into continue to evolve

Word Forms

evolved past tense, evolves singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “evolve” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Birds are believed to have _____ from a group of feathered dinosaurs.

Etymology

From Latin ēvolvere, "to unroll or unfold," from ē- ("out") + volvere ("to roll").

Rhymes for evolve

See all rhymes for evolve →
Definitions: FreeDict original editorial