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.

The research team constructed the first evolutionary tree for decapodiformes based on genome sequences from nearly all major lineages.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

These genetic features act like evolutionary accelerators, preserving useful traits and speeding up change.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 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

Perhaps the biggest of these unsolved problems is to establish human history as a historical science, on a par with recognized historical sciences such as evolutionary biology, geology, and climatology.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond