revolve

play

verb re·volve \ ri-ˈvälv , -ˈvȯlv also -ˈväv or -ˈvȯv \

Definition of revolve

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 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

play \-ˈväl-və-bəl, -ˈvȯl- also -ˈvä-və- or -ˈvȯ-və-\ adjective

See revolve defined for English-language learners

See revolve defined for kids

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 of revolve from the Web

Her red lips went darker, with 1989's cover revolving around her fractured, above the fray self: lips-down on the cover, nose-up on the album liner, and a faded, Polaroid-from-a-distance aesthetic.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "Taylor Swift's New Album Signals a Dark, Powerful Style She's Never Shown Before," 24 Aug. 2017
Since Trubisky's debut, the biggest debate in town revolved around when to start the rookie.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Brian Urlacher hopeful about Mitch Trubisky, Bears and his Hall of Fame chances," 20 Aug. 2017
Most Klan activities recently revolve more around circulating fliers, with a recent incident of this reported in Hudson in June.

— kate irby, miamiherald, "KKK groups are growing in Florida, even as they rise and fall across the U.S.," 15 Aug. 2017
But the Shamrocks’ success – especially early against a loaded schedule – will revolve around how the rest of the offense develops.

— jason frakes, The Courier-Journal, "Trinity High School football coach looks to cut the fat, add another state title," 11 Aug. 2017
That was just the inevitable outgrowth of the underlying rivalry, and that rivalry revolved around persuading hundreds of millions of people of the rightness of a particular vision.

— peter savodnik, vanityfair.com, "How Comrade Trump Unleashed a Cold War in America," 9 Aug. 2017
That was just the inevitable outgrowth of the underlying rivalry, and that rivalry revolved around persuading hundreds of millions of people of the rightness of a particular vision.

— peter savodnik, The Hive, "How Comrade Trump Unleashed a Cold War in America," 9 Aug. 2017
Because Bailey opts to spend his summers on the AAU baseball circuit, his recruitment revolves around the diamond.

— kyle williams, The Courier-Journal, "Jeffersonville's Bailey Falkenstein confident he could play baseball or basketball at next level," 17 July 2017
Naturally, a lot of the rethinking revolves around transportation.

— matthew segal, Los Angeles Magazine, "5 Major Changes Coming to L.A.," 13 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of revolve

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

revolve Synonyms

Synonyms

pivot, turn, roll, rotate, spin, swing, swirl, swivel, twirl, twist, wheel, whirl

Related Words

screw, unscrew; twiddle; coil, crank, reel, wind; circulate

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight; dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

REVOLVE Defined for English Language Learners

revolve

play

verb

Definition of revolve for English Language Learners

: to turn around a center point or line

REVOLVE Defined for Kids

revolve

play

verb re·volve \ ri-ˈvälv , -ˈvȯlv \

Definition of revolve for Students

revolved; revolving

1 :to move in an orbit

Planets revolve around the sun.

2 :rotate 1

Word Root of revolve

The Latin word volvere, meaning “to roll” or “to turn around,” gives us the root volv. Words from the Latin volvere have something to do with turning. To revolve is to turn in circles or travel on a circular path. To evolve, or grow or develop out of something else, is to unroll from a source. To involve, or include, is to roll someone into a situation.