evolve
verb OPAL W
/ɪˈvɒlv/
/ɪˈvɑːlv/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they evolve | /ɪˈvɒlv/ /ɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| he / she / it evolves | /ɪˈvɒlvz/ /ɪˈvɑːlvz/ |
| past simple evolved | /ɪˈvɒlvd/ /ɪˈvɑːlvd/ |
| past participle evolved | /ɪˈvɒlvd/ /ɪˈvɑːlvd/ |
| -ing form evolving | /ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ/ /ɪˈvɑːlvɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated form; to develop something in this way
- evolve (from something) (into something) The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic.
- The company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer.
- evolve something (from something) Each school must evolve its own way of working.
Extra Examples- Online games tend to evolve over time.
- Our products have been evolving according to the requirements of the times.
- He evolved his style of painting while working as a magazine illustrator.
- The market has evolved considerably in recent years.
- The protest movement has evolved into a well organized political party.
- Veterinary medicine is steadily evolving to meet the demands of pet owners.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gradually
- slowly
- quickly
- …
- continue to
- tend to
- according to
- from
- into
- …
- fully evolved
- highly evolved
- [intransitive, transitive] (biology) (of plants, animals, etc.) to develop over time, often many generations, into forms that are better adapted to survive changes in their environment
- evolve (from something) The three species evolved from a single ancestor.
- evolve something The dolphin has evolved a highly developed jaw.
Extra ExamplesTopics Biologyb2- Africa and its wildlife evolved together.
- Monkeys in the New World evolved quite separately from those in the Old World.
- More complex animals gradually evolved from these very simple creatures.
- These are very highly evolved animals.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gradually
- slowly
- quickly
- …
- continue to
- tend to
- according to
- from
- into
- …
- fully evolved
- highly evolved
Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘make more complex, develop’): from Latin evolvere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + volvere ‘to roll’.