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 of evolve

• unfold
• grow
• develop
• progress

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

Trump’s political standing, which has evolved over just a few months from dominant to desperate, is a good reminder of a few things conventional wisdom has gotten wrong. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026

As time has gone by and politics in America have evolved, Armstrong, drummer Tre Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt haven’t mellowed. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

Falling launch costs, fueled largely by reusable rockets, have transformed access to low Earth orbit (LEO), turning it into a fast-evolving marketplace where companies compete and innovate at rapid speed. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026

As denim has evolved, the price tag has increased. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026

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