revolve

verb

re·​volve ri-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv,

 also  -ˈväv,

 or  -ˈvȯv

revolved; revolving

transitive verb

1

: to turn over at length in the mind : ponder

revolve a scheme

2

a

obsolete : to cause to go round in an orbit

b

: rotate sense 1

intransitive verb

1

: recur

2

a

: to ponder something

b

: to remain under consideration

ideas revolved in his mind

3

a

: to move in a curved path round a center or axis

b

: to turn or roll round on an axis

4

: to have or come to a specified focus : center

—usually used with around

the dispute revolved around wages

revolvable

ri-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

 also  -ˈvä-və-

 or  -ˈvȯ-və-

adjective

Synonyms

• rotate
• turn
• swing
• spin
• twist
• twirl
• swirl

Examples of revolve in a Sentence

As the gear revolves, it turns the other gears.

The Earth revolves on its axis.

The software allows you to revolve images.

Recent Examples on the Web

During every storm, a sunspot had revolved into position near the apparent center of the solar surface, like the turret of a battleship lining up its target. —Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025

The county, where per-capita personal income levels are nearly 40% higher than the national median, is also seen as a pioneer for its financing model, which created a revolving loan fund to replace private sources of equity and keep the units owned by the public. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

Beyond supernatural encounters, the Beaux-Arts hotel is also a glittering grande dame of the French Quarter, with a revolving carousel bar, pristine marble floors, and a wooden grandfather clock that’s chimed in the lobby since 1909. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025

This annual event occurs when the Earth revolves into a stream of material left by Halley’s Comet. —Dean Regas, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English revolven "to pass (of time), wind round, roll," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French revolver "to turn, turn over (in the mind)," borrowed from Latin revolvere "to roll back to a starting point, bring back round, (passive) travel in a circular course, return to a starting point," from re- re- + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing revolve

• revolve around

Rhymes for revolve

• absolve
• devolve
• dissolve
• evolve
• involve
• resolve
• solve

Kids Definition

revolve

verb

re·​volve ri-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv

revolved; revolving

1

: to think over carefully

2

a

: to move in an orbit

b

: to turn on or as if on an axis : rotate

3

: recur sense 3

4

: to have as a main point

the argument revolved around wages

revolvable

-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

adjective

Etymology

Middle English revolven "to turn over in the mind, cause to go around (on an axis)," from Latin revolvere "to roll back, cause to return," from re- "back, again" and volvere "to roll" — related to volume see Word History at volume