evolved

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitivebiology

   Changed slowly over time into a more developed form, especially through natural processes.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by 'from' or 'into': 'evolved from a simple design'.

   Patterns

   • evolved from something
   • evolved into something
   • have evolved over time

   Birds evolved from small dinosaurs over millions of years.

   The company has evolved into a global brand since 1990.

   Their friendship evolved slowly from a shared love of chess.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Developed or produced something gradually through thought or experiment.

   Grammar: Takes an object: 'evolve a plan' means to develop one step by step.

   Patterns

   • evolve a plan
   • evolve a system
   • evolve a theory

   The team evolved a new method for testing the drug.

   Over the years she evolved her own style of teaching.

Word forms

Common combinations

highly evolved

Whales have highly evolved hearing for life underwater.

evolved over time

The language has evolved over time into many dialects.

evolved from

Modern roses evolved from a few wild species.

evolved into

The small workshop evolved into a large factory.

fully evolved

The plan was not fully evolved when they presented it.

Synonyms and how they differ

developed

Developed is broader and can describe growth in people or business, not only slow natural change.

adapted

Adapted stresses fitting a new environment, while evolved stresses gradual change across generations.

Opposites

Word family

evolve verb

to change or develop gradually

evolution noun

the slow process of change over time

evolutionary adjective

relating to gradual natural change

evolving adjective

changing or developing continuously

Commonly confused: evolved or involved?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “evolved”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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