Meaning & use
evolution
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Meanings
noununcountablebiology
The slow change in living things over many generations, as new traits spread and new species appear.
Grammar: No an or plural: the theory of evolution.
Patterns
- the evolution of something
- evolution by natural selection
Darwin's work explained the evolution of species.
The evolution of birds from dinosaurs took millions of years.
Natural selection drives evolution.
nouncountable or uncountable
A gradual change and development of something, such as a technology, idea or society.
Grammar: Often used with the evolution of: the evolution of the phone.
Patterns
- the evolution of something
- evolution from something to something
The evolution of the smartphone changed daily life.
Fashion shows constant evolution.
She wrote a book on the evolution of jazz.
Word forms
| plural | evolutions |
|---|
Common combinations
- theory of evolution
- The theory of evolution is taught in biology class.
- human evolution
- Fossils shed light on human evolution.
- natural evolution
- The language went through a natural evolution.
- rapid evolution
- The industry saw rapid evolution.
- evolution of language
- Linguists study the evolution of language.
Synonyms and how they differ
- development
- Development is general growth and does not suggest the slow biological process of evolution.
- progression
- Progression stresses steps in order, while evolution suggests slow adaptation.
- adaptation
- Adaptation is a single change that helps something survive, whereas evolution is the whole long process.
- growth
- Growth is about getting bigger, unlike evolution, which is about changing.
Opposites
Word family
- evolve verb
- to change gradually
- evolutionary adjective
- relating to evolution
- evolutionist noun
- a person who studies or supports evolutionary theory
- coevolution noun
- evolution of two species affecting each other
Commonly confused: evolution or revolution?
evolution vs revolution
Revolution is a sudden, big change, often political. Evolution is slow and gradual.
Practice
Scientists study the ___ of whales from land animals.
Choose one answer.
Evolution is gradual change over generations. Revolution is a sudden change, which does not fit the long natural process.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “evolution”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.