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

Her character, Mia, is a producer at UBA’s The Morning Show, around which the series revolves. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025

Platforms like Eater have changed the game for everything food fans do revolving from the actual dining experience to understanding the landscape behind the restaurants and the chefs literally feeding us. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Another, also built from white disks on a bending wire, evokes a mechanized Japanese cherry tree, its circles—perched high on a narrow stem—not revolving so much as brushing quickly past one another. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

Experts say many car shoppers could benefit from paying down revolving debt and improving their credit scores, which could pave the way to even better loan terms in the future. —Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 15 Sep. 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