evolutionary

[ev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee, ee-vuh-] / ˌɛv əˈlu ʃəˌnɛr i, ˌi və- /

ADJECTIVE

pertaining to evolution or development

Synonyms

STRONGEST

developmental metamorphic mutative transformative

STRONG

changing growing progressive transmutative

WEAK

generative revolutionary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

extinct stagnant stunted

STRONG

dormant idle inert

WEAK

arrested frozen

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.

"I believed this genome could help close a key gap and bring clarity to the broader evolutionary questions of cephalopods."

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

To determine how this species fits into the evolutionary history of humans, the researchers used a Bayesian "tip-dating" method.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

"The addition of this Arctic species to the rhino family tree now offers new insights to our understanding of their evolutionary history."

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

"There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

As long as our inquiries are limited to one or two evolutionary lines on a single planet, we will remain forever ignorant of the possible range and brilliance of other intelligences and other civilizations.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan