SINCE 1828
convergent
adjective
con·ver·gent
| \ kən-ˈvər-jənt
\
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Definition of convergent
1
: tending to move toward one point or to approach each other : converging
convergent lines a tropical cyclone characterized by convergent airflow
2
: exhibiting convergence in form, function, or development
convergent evolution
3a
of an improper integral
: having a value that is a real number
b
: characterized by having the nth term or the sum of the first n terms approach a finite limit
a convergent sequence a convergent series
Examples of convergent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is an example of what biologists call convergent evolution, when organisms evolve the same traits multiple times in different ways. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Neanderthals and Woolly Mammoths Shared Genetic Traits," 10 Apr. 2019 Se Jin Song, a biologist at the University of California San Diego and the study’s lead author, had previously studied the convergent evolution of gut bacteria. — Joshua Sokol, New York Times, "The Vampire Birds of the Galápagos Have Fascinating Inner Lives," 8 June 2019 This looks like a classic case of convergent evolution, but no one has been able to prove the point by demonstrating a benefit derived from it that is connected directly with brood parasitism. — The Economist, "Convergent evolutionThicker eggshells help cuckoos hatch earlier than their nestmates," 18 Jan. 2018 That gives biologists a tool with which to explore the phenomenon of convergent evolution, in which unrelated lines with similar ways of life evolve similar adaptations that help them to thrive. — The Economist, "Convergent evolutionThicker eggshells help cuckoos hatch earlier than their nestmates," 18 Jan. 2018 Sometimes two unrelated species can undergo convergent evolution, a process by which two different animals independently evolve a similar trait. — Eva Botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, "Is the dinosaur family tree becoming a dinosaur?," 3 Nov. 2017 But, whatever the particulars, the discovery Mr Smithwick and Dr Vinther have made is a nice example of convergent evolution, showing that what works today worked in the Cretaceous, too. — The Economist, "PalaeontologyOne species of dinosaur wore a bandit mask," 26 Oct. 2017 The straight-tusked elephant is now an example of convergent evolution, starting from an ancestor that had more in common with African elephants but becoming anatomically more like Asian elephants. — Brian Switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "In Ancient Bones, an Elephant-Size Surprise," 12 June 2017 Together, the two- and three-toed flavors of sloth represent a remarkable case of convergent evolution. — Brian Switek, WIRED, "The Sloth’s Evolutionary Secret," 3 Jan. 2012These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'convergent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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