evolve

verb

i-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv,

ē-,

 also  -ˈväv,

 or  -ˈvȯv

evolved; evolving

transitive verb

1

: emit

2

a

: derive, educe

b

: to produce by natural evolutionary processes

c

: develop, work out

evolve social, political, and literary philosophies

—L. W. Doob

intransitive verb

: to undergo evolutionary change

evolvable

i-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

ē-

 also  -ˈvä-və-

 or  -ˈvȯ-və-

adjective

evolvement

i-ˈvälv-mənt 

-ˈvȯlv-

ē-

 also  -ˈväv-

 or  -ˈvȯv-

noun

Synonyms

• develop
• elaborate
• unfold

Examples of evolve in a Sentence

Her company has evolved from a hobby into a thriving business.

Some flowers have evolved remarkable means of insect pollination.

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike classical computing, which processes information through bits that can exist in either zeros or ones, quantum computing is an evolving field where quantum bits (or qubits) can occupy both zero and one in a single unit. —Rachel Curry, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025

An evolving room The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room has become a storied place in American politics. —Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 6 Apr. 2025

Over time, the term evolved in Romance languages to mean a large, often luxurious house, especially in the countryside or near the coast, and that's how it's commonly used today. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

After the early back-and-forth, the matchup quickly evolved into a defensive battle as both teams went scoreless for more than three minutes late in the first. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin ēvolvere "to roll out or away, unwind, unroll, narrate (a series of events)," from ē-, variant of ex- ex- entry 1 before voiced consonants + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for evolve

• absolve
• devolve
• dissolve
• involve
• resolve
• revolve
• solve

Kids Definition

evolve

verb

i-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv

evolved; evolving

1

: to develop or work out from something else

evolved a new plan

evolved a safer design from the old one

2

: to produce by a process of evolution

3

: to change by a process of evolution

evolvable

i-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

adjective

Medical Definition

evolve

verb

i-ˈvälv, -ˈvȯlv 

evolved; evolving

transitive verb

: to produce by natural evolutionary processes

intransitive verb

: to develop by or as if by evolution : undergo evolutionary change

an evolving theory of mental functioning

—S. A. Green