Synonyms

evolve

American

[ih-volv] / ɪˈvɒlv /

verb (used with object)

to develop gradually.

to evolve a scheme.
to give off or emit, as odors or vapors.

verb (used without object)

to come forth gradually into being; develop; undergo evolution.

The whole idea evolved from a casual remark.
to gradually change one's opinions or beliefs.

candidates who are still evolving on the issue;
an evolved feminist mom.
Biology. to develop by a process of evolution to a different adaptive state or condition.

The human species evolved from an ancestor that was probably arboreal.

evolve British

/ ɪˈvɒlv /

verb

to develop or cause to develop gradually
(intr) (of animal or plant species) to undergo evolution
(tr) to yield, emit, or give off (heat, gas, vapour, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

evolve Scientific

/ ĭ-vŏlv′ /

To undergo biological evolution, as in the development of new species or new traits within a species.
To develop a characteristic through the process of evolution.
To undergo change and development, as the structures of the universe.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of evolve

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin ēvolvere “to unroll, open, unfold,” equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + volvere “to roll, turn”

Explanation

When something evolves, it changes, or develops over time, like your taste in music and clothes, which evolve as you get older. Evolve comes from the Latin word evolvere, "to unroll" — the perfect image to keep in mind when thinking of this verb. When something is unrolling or unraveling, it is doing so gradually, not all at once. Evolve describes a development that is taking its time to reach its final destination. Think change with a speed limit. Your taste in music evolved from the nursery rhymes you loved as a little kid to whatever you like today. Even places can evolve, like the old-fashioned coffee shops that evolved into Internet cafés as people began to bring their laptops with them.

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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:

evolve evolves evolved evolving

By studying these systems, researchers can estimate how energetic the collisions were and learn more about how rocky planets form and evolve.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

“Television is evolving,” Abrego said, adding that the Emmy Awards must evolve too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

"We're always trying to evolve existing ideas to bring them into a new life or coming up with different cultural references," she told the show's press launch.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Google has formed a new Hollywood partnership to improve the image of tech on screen and evolve the company’s product placement strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Every other mammal that went to sea—seals, sea cows, dolphins—had to evolve for aeons to develop specialised organs and a hydrodynamic body.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

But as AI evolves and AI actors like Tilly Norwood continue to make headlines, it’s still unclear exactly how the industry will be affected.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

It is up to the players to convince him of their role in it, even as it evolves.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

By changing the surrounding environment, the jets can influence how a galaxy grows and evolves, including whether it continues creating stars or becomes quiescent.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

Asked whether France could deploy Rafale jet fighters to help protect the site, Macron said it would depend on how the situation evolves, adding that some planes were already in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

In the second stage a former animal pathogen evolves to the point where it does get transmitted directly between people and causes epidemics.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

At the same time, it evolved enormous molars suited to grinding and crushing tough, hard foods, functioning much like a mortar and pestle.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Alongside Dave Jones they organised their first Beatles convention, which evolved into the annual Mathew Street Music Festival.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

I think most Americans understand what the Eighth Amendment means, and that understanding has evolved over time.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

Beloved for its mildly sweet, nutty flavour and velvety texture, it later evolved into a party food, consumed as a jam or stewed with sticky rice balls in coconut milk.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Yeah, I guess it just kind of evolved into that. We all have our own skill sets. Turns out I’m pretty handy,” he says with pride.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

She said WHO recognises this is an evolving field and will continue to evaluate the evidence.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

China already has a complex, evolving set of rules on how AI is used, including by children.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

Consumer preferences are evolving toward personal care, new flavors, moderated drinking and choices based on specific occasions, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Total costs depend on many factors for a given task,” she added, “which can make it hard to forecast new and evolving technology with precision.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

But technology kept evolving, and I kept reinvesting in the business.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023