Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense revolves, present participle revolving, past tense, past participle revolved
1. verb
If you say that one thing revolvesaround another thing, you mean that the second thing is the main feature or focus of the first thing.
Since childhood, her life has revolved around tennis. [V + around]
This plot revolves around a youngster who is shown various stages of his life. [Varound n]
Synonyms: be concerned with, focus on, concentrate on, hang on More Synonyms of revolve
2. verb
If a discussion or conversation revolvesaround a particular topic, it is mainly about that topic.
The debate revolves around specific accounting techniques. [V + around]
The conversation revolved around the terrible condition of the road. [Varound n]
3. verb
If one object revolvesaround another object, the first object turns in a circle around the second object.
The satellite revolves around the Earth once every hundred minutes. [V + around]
Synonyms: go round, circle, orbit, gyrate More Synonyms of revolve
4. verb
When something revolves or when you revolve it, it moves or turns in a circle around a central point or line.
Overhead, the fan revolved slowly. [VERB]
Monica picked up her pen and revolved it between her teeth. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of revolve
revolve in British English
(rɪˈvɒlv)
verb
1.
to move or cause to move around a centre or axis; rotate
2. (intransitive)
to occur periodically or in cycles
3.
to consider or be considered
4. (intr; foll by around or about)
to be centred or focused (upon)
Juliet's thoughts revolved around Romeo
noun
5. theatre
a circular section of a stage that can be rotated by electric power to provide a scene change
Derived forms
revolvable (reˈvolvable)
adjective
revolvably (reˈvolvably)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin revolvere, from re- + volvere to roll, wind
revolve in American English
(rɪˈvɑlv; rɪˈvɔlv)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈvolved or reˈvolving
1.
to turn over in the mind; reflect on
2.
to cause to travel in a circle or orbit
3.
to cause to rotate, or spin around an axis
verb intransitive
4.
to move in a circle or orbit around a point
5.
to spin or turn around a center or axis; rotate
6.
to be oriented (around or about something regarded as a center)
7.
to recur at intervals; occur periodically
8.
to be pondered or reflected on
Derived forms
revolvable (reˈvolvable)
adjective
Word origin
ME revolven < L revolvere < re-, back + volvere, to roll: see walk
Examples of 'revolve' in a sentence
revolve
The job is seen as yet another spin of the revolving door at the watchdog.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We lie down and slowly revolve on the turntable gazing up at the stars.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We share a home and my life revolves around his.
The Sun (2017)
They think the world should revolve around them.
The Sun (2016)
There are talks but my career does not revolve around him.
The Sun (2016)
My life really revolves around my family.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It revolves around people who share a birthday and has a big twist at the end.
The Sun (2016)
It all revolves around what nature gives me.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
The man who has been in charge of the revolving door in the boardroom at Cobham is going himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Otherwise go back to a revolving door and I think club has been like that for too long.
The Sun (2016)
Their whole life revolved around serving the party.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My own newly minted fear revolves around revolving doors.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your existence revolves around packing suitcases and moving on.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
All these issues revolve around how power distributes itself relative to competitive advantage.
Geoffrey A. Moore INSIDE THE TORNADO: MARKETING STRATEGIES FROM SILICON VALLEY'S CUTTING EDGE (2001)
The conversation obviously revolved around the war.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
The technological clock revolves in one to two decades.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
My work life has revolved around social housing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She is not happy unless the conversation or action revolves around her.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The entire action takes place on a giant luggage carousel that revolves slowly throughout.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
How much the world revolves almost entirely around the male gaze.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Those who know him insist that his deliberations will ignore the bottom line and revolve around footballing issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He talked movingly of the futility of offenders going in and out of prison through a revolving door.
The Sun (2014)
The script is in the early stages but insiders say it will revolve around life in the music industry.
The Sun (2012)
But now he realises the game does not revolve around one man with a Superman touchdown celebration.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Most scenes revolve around exploration.
Christianity Today (2000)
A popular line revolved around setting up declarer's hearts and trying to make his hand good.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My own favourite things revolve, perhaps predictably, around food.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Her own social life, by contrast, revolved around her circle of literary friends.
Paula Byrne PERDITA: The Life of Mary Robinson (2004)
In a scene that revolves around flashy launches and exclusive parties, the London fashion crowd is often hard to please.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A stadium bicycle race is made vivid with a revolving stage, a bridge and actors who move their bikes steadily on the spot.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
revolve
British English: revolve VERB
to revolve around sthdepend If you say that one thing revolves around another thing, you mean that the second thing is the main feature or focus of the first thing.
Since childhood, her life has revolved around tennis.
American English: revolve
Brazilian Portuguese: girar
Chinese: 以…为中心
European Spanish: girar
French: tourner
German: sich drehen um
Italian: ruotare
Japanese: ～を中心に回る
Korean: ~를 중심에 두다
European Portuguese: girar
Latin American Spanish: girar
British English: revolve VERB
turn When something revolves or when you revolve it, it moves or turns in a circle around a central point or line.
Overhead, the fan revolved slowly.
American English: revolve
Brazilian Portuguese: orbitar
Chinese: 萦绕
European Spanish: girarse
French: tourner
German: sich drehen
Italian: far girare
Japanese: 回転する
Korean: ~를 중심으로 돌다
European Portuguese: orbitar
Latin American Spanish: girar_vt/girarse_vi
Chinese translation of 'revolve'
revolve
(rɪˈvɔlv)
vi
[wheel, propeller etc]旋转(轉) (xuánzhuǎn)
to revolve (a)round sth[earth, moon]围(圍)绕(繞)某物旋转(轉) (wéirào mǒuwù xuánzhuǎn) [life, discussion]以某物为(為)中心 (yǐ mǒuwù wéi zhōngxīn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to be centred or focused upon
Her life has revolved around tennis.
Synonyms
be concerned with
focus on
concentrate on
hang on
centre around
be absorbed in
pivot on
2 (verb)
Definition
to move or cause to move around a centre
The satellite revolves around the earth.
Synonyms
go round
circle
This is the ring road that circles the city.
orbit
the first satellite to orbit the Earth
gyrate
The aeroplane was gyrating about in the sky in a most alarming fashion.
3 (verb)
Definition
to move or cause to move around a centre
The entire circle revolved slowly.
Synonyms
rotate
The earth rotates round the sun.
turn
As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.
wheel
I wheeled around to face her.
spin
The Earth spins on its own axis.
twist
Hold your arms straight out and twist to the right and left.
whirl
Hearing a sound behind her, she whirled round.
4 (verb)
Definition
to consider or be considered
He revolved the new notion dizzily in his mind.
Synonyms
consider
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
study
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.
reflect
I reflected on the child's future.
think about
deliberate
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
ponder
He didn't waste time pondering the question.
turn over (in your mind)
meditate
I was meditating, and reached a higher state of consciousness.
mull over
She had been mulling over the idea of making a movie.
think over
ruminate
I had time to ruminate as I drove along.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of circle
Definition
to enclose in a circle
This is the ring road that circles the city.
Synonyms
go round,
ring,
surround,
belt,
curve,
enclose,
encompass,
compass,
envelop,
encircle,
circumscribe,
hem in,
gird,
circumnavigate,
enwreath
in the sense of deliberate
Definition
to consider (something) deeply
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
Synonyms
consider,
think,
ponder,
discuss,
debate,
reflect,
consult,
weigh,
meditate,
mull over,
ruminate,
cogitate
in the sense of gyrate
Definition
to turn round and round in a circle
The aeroplane was gyrating about in the sky in a most alarming fashion.
Synonyms
rotate,
circle,
spin,
spiral,
revolve,
whirl,
twirl,
pirouette
Synonyms of 'revolve'
revolve
Explore 'revolve' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of meditate
Definition
to think about something deeply
I was meditating, and reached a higher state of consciousness.
Synonyms
reflect,
think,
consider,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
ponder,
ruminate,
cogitate,
be in a brown study,
plan,
design,
scheme,
purpose,
intend,
devise,
have in mind
in the sense of mull over
Definition
to study or ponder
She had been mulling over the idea of making a movie.
Synonyms
ponder,
consider,
study,
think about,
examine,
review,
weigh,
contemplate,
reflect on,
think over,
muse on,
meditate on,
ruminate on,
deliberate on,
turn something over in your mind
in the sense of orbit
Definition
to move around (a heavenly body) in an orbit
the first satellite to orbit the Earth
Synonyms
circle,
ring,
go round,
compass,
revolve around,
encircle,
circumscribe,
gird,
circumnavigate
in the sense of ponder
Definition
to consider thoroughly or deeply
He didn't waste time pondering the question.
Synonyms
think about,
consider,
study,
reflect on,
examine,
weigh up,
contemplate,
deliberate about,
muse on,
brood on,
meditate on,
mull over,
puzzle over,
ruminate on,
give thought to,
cogitate on,
rack your brains about,
cerebrate,
excogitate
in the sense of reflect
Definition
to consider carefully
I reflected on the child's future.
Synonyms
consider,
think,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
ponder,
meditate,
mull over,
ruminate,
cogitate,
wonder
in the sense of ruminate
Definition
to meditate or ponder
I had time to ruminate as I drove along.
Synonyms
ponder,
think,
consider,
reflect,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
brood,
meditate,
mull over things,
chew over things,
cogitate,
rack your brains,
turn over in your mind
in the sense of spin
Definition
to revolve or cause to revolve quickly
The Earth spins on its own axis.
Synonyms
revolve,
turn,
rotate,
wheel,
twist,
reel,
whirl,
twirl,
gyrate,
pirouette,
birl (Scottish)
in the sense of study
Definition
to investigate or examine (something) by observation and research
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.
Synonyms
contemplate,
read,
examine,
consider,
go into,
con (archaic),
pore over,
scrutinize,
peruse,
apply yourself (to)
in the sense of turn
Definition
to rotate or move round
As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.
Synonyms
rotate,
spin,
go round (and round),
revolve,
roll,
circle,
wheel,
twist,
spiral,
whirl,
swivel,
pivot,
twirl,
gyrate,
go round in circles,
move in a circle
in the sense of twist
Definition
to revolve or rotate
Hold your arms straight out and twist to the right and left.