Word
evolutionary
Meanings
Relating to evolution or the development of organisms over time.
Involving gradual change and adaptation rather than sudden transformation.
Definition
Related to evolution and the gradual development of living things over time.
If something is evolutionary, it is connected to evolution or to changes that happen over many generations. It often describes how species develop traits that help them survive and reproduce in particular environments. The word can also describe patterns, pressures, or processes that shape biological change over time.
Examples
- The documentary explains how evolutionary pressures can shape behavior without any conscious planning.
- In your essay, you argue that evolutionary change is often uneven, speeding up in some periods and slowing in others.
- Her research highlights evolutionary trade-offs, showing how a benefit in one context can become a cost in another.
- They debated whether the evolutionary advantages of cooperation depend on stable social groups.
- I found the evolutionary perspective useful because it links tiny genetic shifts to large-scale patterns over time.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse evolutionary (related to evolution) with revolutionary (sudden, radical change).
More at C1 level
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More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
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- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.