evolution

noun

ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce evolution (audio)
Definition of evolutionnext
as in progress
the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced the evolution of motion pictures from short, silent reels into a medium of mass entertainment and an art form

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of evolution Rafauli describes the penthouse at Aman Miami Beach as an evolution of his design approach, placing more emphasis on bringing together architecture, furnishings, lighting, and art rather than treating them as separate elements. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 From honoring industry pioneers with the Latin Music Legacy Award to bringing Tito Nieves and Luis Figueroa together to discuss the evolution of salsa, AARP was part of the conversations where culture, community and generations connect. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026 The exhibition will also explore the evolution of royal jewelry and its continuing role in shaping the image of monarchy today. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 Gibney shows the photogenic Stanford dropout’s evolution into a major celebrity and tech power broker, rubbing shoulders with world leaders. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evolution
  1. progress
  2. development
  3. progression
  4. expansion
  5. growth
Noun
  • The progress came roughly a year after the program received funding for its initial engineering, manufacturing and development phase.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Members will measure their progress using the IUCN’s Red List and its Green Status of Species, the fund said.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of progress
Noun
  • Applications could range from assessing the impact of an earthquake by comparing imagery before and after an event to monitoring changes in infrastructure or identifying developments in a sensitive area.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Its Remote Intercept Guidance 360 (RIG-360) program has completed a major flight test and several development milestones within months.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of development
Noun
  • There should be visibility into how progression happens, what triggers the next step and how value will be shared as the firm grows.
    — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The progression from vessel impact to environmental damage is clear to see in many cases, said Brian Barnes, who is part of a group of satellite oceanographers at the University of South Florida analyzing the effects of this war from afar.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of progression
Noun
  • The Valkyries made history in their inaugural season, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Scaling hypersonic composites The expansion comes alongside a broader push to strengthen the US industrial base for hypersonic systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expansion
Noun
  • Concerns also remain that their prices shot too high following a yearslong frenzy, even though companies in the industry continue to report growth.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • New consumer research suggests the shift is more deliberate, and more compatible with luxury growth, than early coverage implied.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of growth

Browse Nearby Words

evoking
evolution
evolutions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Evolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evolution. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on evolution

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about evolution

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All