evolve

verb

(transitive) To change or transform (something).

(transitive) To cause (something) to come into being or develop.

(transitive) (biology) (chiefly passive voice) To cause (a population, a species, etc.) to change genetic composition over successive generations through the process of evolution.

(transitive) (biology) Of a population: to acquire or develop (a trait) in the process of biological evolution.

(intransitive) To change, to transform.

(intransitive) (biology) Of a trait; to develop within a population through biological evolution.

(transitive) To move (something) in regular procession through a system.

(intransitive) To move in regular procession through a system.

(transitive) (chemistry) To give off (a gas such as carbon dioxide or oxygen) during a chemical reaction.

(transitive) (obsolete) To wind or unwind (something).

Roots

volvereolv- · Latin · to roll, turn

Synonyms for evolve

developv growv evolute expandv unfoldv maturatev cultivatev

Synonyms & related words for evolve

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of evolve — including develop, grow, evolute, expand, unfold, maturate. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to evolve

Explore words related to evolve — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include evolvable, evolvement, coevolve, evolutions, evolutionarily, transformism, germinate, progressionist. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for evolve

Common synonyms for evolve include develop, grow, evolute, expand, unfold, maturate, cultivate — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does evolve come from?

The word evolve breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root olv-, from Latin volvere (“to roll, turn”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.