The word evolve means to change or develop gradually. It can also refer to gradual change over time, such as “the human species is constantly evolving.”

A related meaning of the word evolve used by biologists can be defined in terms of the modern theory of evolution. The theory of biological evolution states that all organisms on Earth have evolved through natural selection over millions of years and that this evolution is continuing today.

What Does Evolve Mean?

According to the American English dictionary, the word evolve (ɪˈvɑːlv, ɪˈvɑlv, ɪˈvɒlv, e-volve) means to change or develop gradually. It is also used as a noun meaning the process of gradual change over time. Evolve has been in use since the mid 16th century and comes from the Latin word evolvere, meaning “to unroll.” The root of this classical Latin verb is volere, which means “to roll.”

As a verb, evolve can be used in many contexts to describe how something changes over time. For example, a butterfly evolves from an egg into a caterpillar and then finally evolves into its final form as a butterfly.

A person evolves from being an infant to being an adolescent to being an adult, all the way to being an elderly person. The process of evolution happens to almost everything in the world.

If you were to look in a thesaurus for word lists of synonyms that have similar meanings to the word evolve, you’d likely find words including:

Develop
Expand
Transform
Change
Adapt
Progress
Advance
Extend
Release
Mature

What Is the Etymology of the Word Evolve?

As a whole, the word origin of Evolve has almost all of its roots in Latin. The Latin prefix “e-,” which means “out of,” combined with the word volvere, which means “to roll,” and became the Latin ēvolvere.

Around the Early 17th century, the word started being used in the English language to indicate “develop” or “make more complex.”

What Is the Theory of Evolution?

You may hear the phrase “evolutionary theory” or “the theory of evolution” and wonder whether it’s a scientific fact. The answer to that question is yes, on a fundamental level.

Evolutionary theory is a hypothesis that explains how life evolved on Earth over millions of years through natural selection. However, this hypothesis is not proven; it remains just a theory — a well-supported one, but still a theory — rather than an established fact.

The modern concept of evolution as developed by Charles Darwin states that all organisms on Earth have evolved through natural selection over millions of years and that this evolution is continuing today.

The Earth’s evolutionary history traces the development from early single-celled life to modern life forms over several billion years. The fossil record provides a window into the past where it can be studied to understand how species have changed over time.

Darwin’s theory includes many ideas about how small changes can accumulate to produce significant effects over time. Natural selection leads to adaptive traits such as camouflage and antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the ability of plants to flourish in tropical or tundra environments.

The idea is based on changes that are measurable within a lifetime. For example, young children often prefer sweet foods, but as they get older, their preferences change; this shift could be due to environmental factors like the availability of fruits in the grocery store or even exposure to other kids who eat candy at lunchtime.

Example Sentences Using the Word Evolve

One of the best ways to learn how to use new words is by examining them used in example sentences and then using them in your own sentences. Here are some examples of the word evolve being used so that you can start using it for yourself!

Over time, the random house at the end of the street evolved from a run-down shack to a friendly and modern single-family home.

As time goes on, the digital formats in which files are stored are evolving to be more compressed and efficient.

The vapors used to be water, but as the temperature got hotter, they evolved into their current gaseous form.

Harpercollins Publishers has evolved from a small publishing company to a worldwide superpower in publishing.

The word of the Day feature on our website has evolved from being a minor and overlooked aspect to one of our main attractions for people!

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, the evolutionary processes shape almost all things on Earth. It’s responsible for the great diversity of species that exists today and continues to shape new ones as they emerge through time. The theory includes many ideas about how small changes can accumulate to produce significant effects over time, such as how natural selection leads to adaptive traits such as camouflage and antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the ability of plants to flourish in tropical or tundra environments.

If you want to evolve into someone who can use the English language more effectively and powerfully, one of the best things you can do is take a look around our blog!

Here at The Word Counter, it’s our goal to enable people to use words and language to truly advance themselves in life. Language is one of the most powerful tools in the world, and being able to wield it effectively can literally change your life, both professionally and personally.

If you want to learn how to understand some of the finer and more complicated aspects of Modern English, feel free to look around our blog! It’s full of essential and easy-to-use resources to ensure that every word you say is accurate and relevant!

Sources:

EVOLVE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

Evolve Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

Evolve – Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.