revolve
Americanverb (used without object)
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to move in a circular or curving course or orbit.
The earth revolves around the sun.
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to turn around or rotate, as on an axis.
The wheel revolves slowly.
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to proceed or occur in a round or cycle; come around again in the process of time; recur.
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to be revolved in the mind.
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to focus or center on.
verb
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to move or cause to move around a centre or axis; rotate
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(intr) to occur periodically or in cycles
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to consider or be considered
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(intr; foll by around or about) to be centred or focused (upon)
Juliet's thoughts revolved around Romeo
noun
Synonym Usage
See turn.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have revolvedperfect
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has revolvedperfect 3rd person singular
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am revolvingprogressive 1st person singular
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are revolvingprogressive
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have been revolvingperfect progressive
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is revolvingprogressive 3rd person singular
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revolvessingular 3rd person
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revolvingparticiple
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has been revolvingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had revolvedperfect
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was revolvingprogressive singular
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had been revolvingperfect progressive
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revolvedsimple
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revolvedparticiple
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were revolvingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of revolve
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revolven, from Latin revolvere “to roll back,” equivalent to re- re- + volvere “to roll, turn round”
Explanation
When something revolves, it turns on an axis or in an orbit around something else. People who love you probably think the world revolves around you (but really, the earth revolves around the sun). Revolve comes from those useful Latin roots re- "again" or "back" and volvere "roll," as seen in evolution, involve, and lots of other familiar words. Picture a revolving door, and you can understand what it means to revolve, or turn in a circular motion.
Vocabulary lists containing revolve
Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory
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Earth and the Solar System - Introductory
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Earth and Space 2: Space
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even if he is no longer at his peak physically, there's little doubt Portugal will revolve around him when they begin their campaign against DR Congo on 17 June.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
While neither of the “Devil Wears Prada” movies revolve around Christianity, the invocation of the devil taps into an older moral rhetoric.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
Given that most of the longer-term revenue targets for AMD revolve around its GPUs, Moore said he thinks investors will continue to look for signs of improvements on the GPU front.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026
Many proposals for a smaller Fed balance sheet revolve around regulatory reforms that could encourage banks to reduce the quantity of reserves they want to hold.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
As if it’s my fault that this whole family doesn’t revolve around her.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
