evolve

7 synonyms and 1 antonym for evolve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — Of living things or species, to develop and change gradually over many generations.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

progress mature develop

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

transform unfold acquire

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

germinate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

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.”

progress transform mature unfold germinate acquire develop

2. verb

To develop gradually into a different or more advanced form.

“The startup evolved from a two-person team into a company of hundreds.”

Opposites

devolve

How to use evolve

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

evolve over time evolve into continue to evolve

Etymology

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

Full origin of evolve →

Frequently asked questions

What does “evolve” mean?

The word “evolve” means of living things or species, to develop and change gradually over many generations. In plain terms, to gradually change and develop into something different, over time.

How do you pronounce “evolve”?

“Evolve” is pronounced ih-VOLV (/ɪˈvɑlv/ in IPA).

How do you use “evolve” in a sentence?

Here is “evolve” used in a sentence: “Birds are believed to have evolved from a group of feathered dinosaurs.”

What part of speech is “evolve”?

“Evolve” is a verb.

Where does the word “evolve” come from?

The word “evolve” comes from Latin. From Latin ēvolvere, "to unroll or unfold," from ē- ("out") + volvere ("to roll").

Is “evolve” a common word?

“Evolve” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “evolve” have?

“Evolve” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of living things or species, to develop and change gradually over many generations.

What is the difference between evolve and develop?

Evolve typically implies gradual change over an extended period, often driven by natural or internal processes, as with species evolving over many generations. Develop is broader and can describe change that happens more quickly or is deliberately directed, such as developing a plan or skill.

Can evolve be used for things other than living species?

Yes, evolve is commonly used to describe anything that develops gradually into a different or more advanced form, such as a business, a technology, or an idea evolving over time. This is a figurative extension of its original biological meaning.

What does it mean when a chemical reaction evolves a gas?

In chemistry, to evolve means to give off a gas as a product of a chemical reaction. For example, a reaction that produces bubbling gas is described as evolving that gas.

People also searched

progress develop mature acquire transform unfold devolve germinate

Nearby words

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