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revolve

verb
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re·​volve | \ ri-ˈvälv How to pronounce revolve (audio) , -ˈvȯlv also -ˈväv or -ˈvȯv \
revolved; revolving

Definition of revolve

transitive verb

1 : to turn over at length in the mind : ponder revolve a scheme
2a obsolete : to cause to go round in an orbit
b : rotate sense 1

intransitive verb

1 : recur
2a : to ponder something
b : to remain under consideration ideas revolved in his mind
3a : 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 aroundthe dispute revolved around wages
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Other Words from revolve

revolvable \ ri-​ˈväl-​və-​bəl How to pronounce revolvable (audio) , -​ˈvȯl-​ also  -​ˈvä-​və-​ or  -​ˈvȯ-​və-​ \ adjective

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web The Academy has a long history of awarding able-bodied actors for performances that revolve around disability, including Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot, Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman and Dustin Hoffman for Rain Man. — Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "Disability Representation Sees Some Onscreen Gains As Inclusion Efforts Grow," 5 Aug. 2020 Other potential risks revolve around access—who at a company has the ability to control the blockchain. — Jack Hagel, WSJ, "Companies Should Bolster Blockchain Controls, Risk Advisory Group Says," 5 Aug. 2020 And the cooking competition itself will revolve around flavors of Indiana. — Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, "Pork, duck, sugar pie. Hoosier culinary culture is on display in national food competition," 31 July 2020 The racial categorizations that prevailed in the US seemed to him crude, and appeared to revolve around little more than guilt, abuse, and rancor. — Caryl Phillips, The New York Review of Books, "Walcott in New York," 29 July 2020 For the foodies out there, that’s what their trips revolve around. — James Barrett, Country Living, "What Type of Road Trip Is Right For You?," 17 July 2020 Per IndieWire, the first six of the 12 total episodes will revolve around alleged supernatural encounters, unexplained disappearances, and more. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "How Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries' Revival Will Be Different From the Original Series," 25 June 2020 Many calls and emails today revolve around friends. — BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 10 June 2020 Unlike a lot of YouTube gardening hosts, most of his advice doesn't revolve around having an enormous backyard and a wheelbarrow full of power tools. — Matt Jancer, Wired, "13 YouTube Channels We Geek Out Over," 10 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'revolve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of revolve

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

History and Etymology for revolve

Middle English, from Latin revolvere to roll back, cause to return, from re- + volvere to roll — more at voluble

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Time Traveler for revolve

Time Traveler

The first known use of revolve was in the 15th century

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Statistics for revolve

Last Updated

9 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Revolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revolve. Accessed 14 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for revolve

revolve

verb
How to pronounce revolve (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of revolve

: to turn around a center point or line

See the full definition for revolve in the English Language Learners Dictionary

revolve

verb
re·​volve | \ ri-ˈvälv How to pronounce revolve (audio) , -ˈvȯlv \
revolved; revolving

Kids Definition of revolve

1 : to move in an orbit Planets revolve around the sun.
2 : rotate sense 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on revolve

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for revolve

Spanish Central: Translation of revolve

Nglish: Translation of revolve for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of revolve for Arabic Speakers

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