revolve

verb

re·​volve ri-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv,

 also  -ˈväv,

 or  -ˈvȯv

revolved; revolving

transitive verb

1

: to turn over at length in the mind : ponder

revolve a scheme

2

a

obsolete : to cause to go round in an orbit

b

: rotate sense 1

intransitive verb

1

: recur

2

a

: to ponder something

b

: to remain under consideration

ideas revolved in his mind

3

a

: to move in a curved path round a center or axis

b

: to turn or roll round on an axis

4

: to have or come to a specified focus : center

—usually used with around

the dispute revolved around wages

revolvable

ri-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

 also  -ˈvä-və-

 or  -ˈvȯ-və-

adjective

Synonyms

• pivot
• roll
• rotate
• spin
• swing
• swirl
• swivel
• turn
• twirl
• twist
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of revolve in a Sentence

As the gear revolves, it turns the other gears.

The Earth revolves on its axis.

The software allows you to revolve images.

Recent Examples on the Web

The restaurant on the 47th floor of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square — the city’s only revolving restaurant and bar — is reopening under the management of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. —Tanya Sichynsky, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Essay The Agony and the Ecstasy of the West Edmonton Mall Max Fawcett On learning to love the abominable mix of Soviet brutalism and unrelenting American capitalism around which Edmonton revolves. —Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025

The filing also details various financial agreements, including amendments to revolving credit facilities and related party loans. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025

The sun provides heat and light, the moon keeps the tides in check, and the planets revolve nicely around a star that’s neither too small nor too large, and just the right temperature. —Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English revolven "to pass (of time), wind round, roll," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French revolver "to turn, turn over (in the mind)," borrowed from Latin revolvere "to roll back to a starting point, bring back round, (passive) travel in a circular course, return to a starting point," from re- re- + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing revolve

• revolve around

Rhymes for revolve

• absolve
• devolve
• dissolve
• evolve
• involve
• resolve
• solve

Kids Definition

revolve

verb

re·​volve ri-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv

revolved; revolving

1

: to think over carefully

2

a

: to move in an orbit

b

: to turn on or as if on an axis : rotate

3

: recur sense 3

4

: to have as a main point

the argument revolved around wages

revolvable

-ˈväl-və-bəl 

-ˈvȯl-

adjective

Etymology

Middle English revolven "to turn over in the mind, cause to go around (on an axis)," from Latin revolvere "to roll back, cause to return," from re- "back, again" and volvere "to roll" — related to volume see Word History at volume