evolve

/ɪˈvɒlv/

//ɪˈvɒlv// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"evolve" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“evolve” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,604 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#9,604
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move (something) in regular procession through a system.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

evolve vs evoke
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for evolve
PropertyValue
Headwordevolve
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈvɒlv/
Letters6
Frequency rank#9,604
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “evolve” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). evolve lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for evolve is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈvɒlv/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,604 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for evolve, with forms such as "eovlve", "evlove", and "evolev". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "evoke", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ē- (“out of”) (short form of ex) + volvō (“roll”). The correct English form is evolve, spelled E-V-O-L-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move (something) in regular procession through a system.
  2. 2
    To change or transform (something).
  3. 3
    To cause (something) to come into being or develop.
  4. 4
    Of a population: to acquire or develop (a trait) in the process of biological evolution.
  5. 5
    To cause (a population, a species, etc.) to change genetic composition over successive generations through the process of evolution.
  6. 6
    To give off (a gas such as carbon dioxide or oxygen) during a chemical reaction.
  7. 7
    To wind or unwind (something).
  8. 8
    To move in regular procession through a system.
  9. 9
    To change, to transform.
  10. 10
    Of a trait; to develop within a population through biological evolution.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ē- (“out of”) (short form of ex) + volvō (“roll”).

This word in other languages

progresar(Español)évoluer(Français)andauern(Deutsch)evoluir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eovlve,evlove,evolev,evollve,evolvve,evovle,evvolve,veolve

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of evolve - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

eovlve2evlove2evolev2evollve1evolvve1evovle2evvolve1veolve2
Edit distance from "evolve"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "evolve"?
"evolve" is spelled E-V-O-L-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈvɒlv/.
What does "evolve" mean?
As a verb, "evolve" means: To move (something) in regular procession through a system.
What words are commonly confused with "evolve"?
"evolve" is commonly confused with "evoke". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "evolve"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "evolve" is /ɪˈvɒlv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "evolve"?
Borrowed from Latin ēvolvō (“unroll, unfold”), from ē- (“out of”) (short form of ex) + volvō (“roll”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “evolve”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-V-O-L-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈvɒlv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “evoke” - see the side-by-side comparison. evolve vs evoke
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list