revolve
Americanverb (used without object)
-
revolves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
revolved,
past participle, past
-
revolving
present participle
-
to move in a circular or curving course or orbit.
The earth revolves around the sun.
-
to turn around or rotate, as on an axis.
The wheel revolves slowly.
-
to proceed or occur in a round or cycle; come around again in the process of time; recur.
-
to be revolved in the mind.
-
to focus or center on.
verb
-
to move or cause to move around a centre or axis; rotate
-
(intr) to occur periodically or in cycles
-
to consider or be considered
-
(intr; foll by around or about) to be centred or focused (upon)
Juliet's thoughts revolved around Romeo
noun
Synonym Usage
See turn.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
revolvesimple
-
revolvessimple
-
have revolvedperfect
-
has revolvedperfect
-
am revolvingprogressive
-
are revolvingprogressive
-
is revolvingprogressive
-
have been revolvingperfect progressive
-
has been revolvingperfect progressive
Past
-
revolvedsimple
-
had revolvedperfect
-
was revolvingprogressive
-
were revolvingprogressive
-
had been revolvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of revolve
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revolven, from Latin revolvere “to roll back,” equivalent to re- re- + volvere “to roll, turn round”
Explanation
When something revolves, it turns on an axis or in an orbit around something else. People who love you probably think the world revolves around you (but really, the earth revolves around the sun). Revolve comes from those useful Latin roots re- "again" or "back" and volvere "roll," as seen in evolution, involve, and lots of other familiar words. Picture a revolving door, and you can understand what it means to revolve, or turn in a circular motion.
Vocabulary lists containing revolve
Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Earth and the Solar System - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Earth and Space 2: Space
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His activities this summer now revolve around partnering with the United Nations Development Program to gather global support for Venezuela’s recovery, which is estimated at $6.7 billion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Those concerns also revolve around so-called AI agents, which are software products that are designed to perform tasks autonomously.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
The gatherings can revolve around topics such as spirituality, career transitions or even menopause.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Infantino opened the door to a 64-team global tournament during this year's event, but Tebas argued that "not everything can revolve around the World Cup".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“What did you revolve in your thoughts, during the long silencer” “I was thinking of time, sir.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Robert De Niro has spent more than five decades building one of Hollywood’s most celebrated careers—and an incredibly unique property portfolio, one that revolves heavily around his hometown of New York.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Meta's business model revolves around selling advertising, and the company earns more when users spend more time on its apps.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
But structurally, “The Samurai and the Prisoner” revolves around a series of mysteries that unfold, one after another, over the course of about a year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
DeChambeau was later deemed to have not "played the course as it is found", breaking Rule 8.1 which revolves around player's actions that "improve conditions affecting the stroke".
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
It all revolves around Michael, who is standing at the center circle, clipboard in hand, shouting at Caroline.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Turkey's interests in Syria historically revolved around preventing a spillover of Kurdish fighters.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
In recent years, much of his work has revolved around fighting against the proposed luxury hotel.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
ME: So from the beginning, you knew that you wanted to do something that revolved around creating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
When news of Sam Neill’s death at the age of 78 broke earlier this week, much of the public sentiment for the late New Zealand actor revolved around his humor and charm.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
That was fine because I hated it when everything revolved around what Lucy knew and said.
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
The Series C investment, which included other venture-capital firms, includes $800 million in equity and a $250 million revolving credit facility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
They had a revolving stage, so it was basically a treadmill, and we were running something like 23 kilometers a night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Nehls only disclosed a handful of bank accounts, stock and a mutual fund — all worth less than $15,000, while listing liabilities in the form of revolving credit from three credit card companies.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
"That was the moment I realised somebody had to do something," said the wildlife biologist, who never dreamt of a career revolving around the sea.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
He was wearing a bright orange party hat, a revolving bow tie, and a broad grin on his wide, wicked face.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
