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Meaning & use

evolving

verb, adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ/
US/ɪˈvɑːlvɪŋ/

“evolving” is a form of “evolve”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    Changing or developing slowly and continuously.

    Grammar: No object; it describes something changing by itself, often with 'into': 'evolving into a new field'.

    Patterns

    • be evolving into something
    • keep evolving
    • evolving over time

    The market is evolving faster than the rules can keep up.

    Their music keeps evolving with each new album.

    The story is still evolving as more facts appear.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Still changing or developing, and not yet fixed or final.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: 'an evolving situation'; you would not say 'the situation is evolving' with this exact adjective sense in formal writing—use the verb there.

    Patterns

    • an evolving situation
    • an evolving market
    • an evolving field

    Reporters struggled to describe the evolving crisis.

    She works in the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence.

    The school has an evolving approach to online learning.

Word forms

base formevolve
third person singularevolves
past tenseevolved
past participleevolved

Common combinations

fast-evolving
Fast-evolving technology makes long-term planning difficult.
constantly evolving
Fashion is constantly evolving from season to season.
an evolving situation
We will update the story as this evolving situation develops.
ever-evolving
The city has an ever-evolving food scene.
evolving needs
The course changes each year to meet students' evolving needs.

Synonyms and how they differ

developing
Developing is more neutral and common for growth in skills or economies; evolving often suggests slow natural change.
changing
Changing is simpler and broader; evolving adds the idea of steady, gradual movement.

Opposites

static

Word family

evolve verb
to change or develop slowly
evolution noun
the process of gradual change
evolved adjective
having developed into a more advanced form

Commonly confused: evolving or involving?

evolving vs involving

Involving means including or affecting someone; evolving means changing gradually. They look similar but come from different verbs.

Practice

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