Synonyms of revolve

revolve

verb

ri-ˈvälv 

1

as in to rotate

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis

the salesclerk revolved the glass display case so I could see the watchbands on the reverse side

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotate
• turn
• swing
• spin
• twist
• twirl
• swirl
• swivel
• pivot
• roll
• wheel
• whirl
• screw
• crank
• unscrew
• circulate
• wind
• reel
• coil
• twiddle

2

as in to spin

to move in circles around an axis or center

the sidereal day measures the time it takes the Earth to revolve completely about its axis with respect to the fixed stars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotate
• spin
• turn
• twirl
• roll
• gyrate
• whirl
• circle
• curl
• wheel
• curve
• swirl
• pinwheel
• round
• pirouette
• twist
• spiral
• encircle
• circulate
• coil
• pivot
• wind
• ring
• orbit
• twine
• swivel

3

as in to contemplate

to give serious and careful thought to

for the next several hours he kept revolving the cryptic message in his mind, trying to make sense of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contemplate
• ponder
• entertain
• consider
• debate
• study
• weigh
• question
• explore
• eye
• analyze
• ruminate
• look at
• chew on
• deliberate
• review
• think (about or over)
• meditate
• turn
• cogitate
• mull (over)
• wrestle (with)
• chew over
• pore (over)
• perpend
• kick around
• reflect (on or upon)
• beat one's brains out (about)
• reminisce
• believe
• muse (upon)
• digest
• conclude
• cudgel one's brains (about)
• speculate (about)
• reason
• dwell (on or upon)
• absorb
• fixate (on or upon)
• opine
• conceive
• fret (about or over)
• brood (about or over)
• obsess (about or over)
• assimilate
• second-guess
• drink (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• overlook
• dismiss
• reject
• pooh-pooh

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of revolve

And some events are fine to skip altogether, especially ones that revolve almost entirely around drinking. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Even in the face of all that pressure, the shows — which debuted the tour’s four revolving setlists — were wildly successful, with tributes to Peart helping one of rock’s most cerebral bands hit new heights of emotional impact. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026

National Guardsmen marched in the paralyzing heat, which, along with the shadows cast by a revolving sculpture in the courtyard, suggested the eerie calm before the gunfight in a Western. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Wilbon also has never shown an interest in becoming the singular personality around whom a show revolves. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026